The controversy surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s clash with the Senate leadership has taken a legal turn, as a Federal High Court in Abuja has stepped in to halt disciplinary proceedings against her.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued an interim injunction restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from continuing its probe into the senator’s alleged misconduct. This decision came after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyers filed an ex parte application, arguing that the investigation could violate her rights.
The legal battle follows a heated exchange during a February 20 plenary session, where Akpoti-Uduaghan openly defied Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s directive on seat allocation. The standoff prompted calls for disciplinary action, with some lawmakers accusing her of tarnishing the Senate’s image. The matter was subsequently referred to the ethics committee for review.
However, with the court’s intervention, the Senate must now pause its investigation until further judicial proceedings determine whether the probe aligns with constitutional and legislative guidelines.
The court has given the defendants 72 hours to present their case on why the disciplinary action should proceed.
