The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 27 to deliver judgment on the suit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, challenging her controversial suspension from the Nigerian Senate.
Presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, the court will decide on both the contempt charges raised against the Senate leadership and the preliminary objections contesting the court’s jurisdiction. The outcome will determine whether the matter proceeds to full hearing or ends at the preliminary stage.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended by the Senate on March 5, a day after another Federal High Court judge had restrained the chamber from taking such action. The case was subsequently reassigned to Justice Nyako after the original judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, recused himself amid allegations of bias.
The suit lists the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuen as defendants. All parties adopted their respective processes on Tuesday, with defence lawyers urging the court to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction.
At the core of the legal dispute is whether the Senate violated the judiciary’s earlier order by suspending the senator, and whether the court can intervene in what the legislature claims is an internal disciplinary matter.
Justice Nyako stated that she would first rule on the contempt and jurisdictional challenges.
“If they succeed, the matter stops there,” she said.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is seeking reinstatement and a declaration that her suspension was unlawful and in defiance of a valid court order.
