Court Orders Akpabio, Others to File Defence in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other defendants to file their defence in a suit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Monday after confirming from court records that all defendants had been duly served with the necessary documents.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, in her motion ex-parte marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, sued the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Senate as the 1st and 2nd defendants. She also named Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, as the 3rd and 4th defendants.

The senator sought an interim injunction to prevent the committee led by Imasuem from proceeding with an investigation against her for alleged misconduct related to events at the Senate plenary on February 20. She argued that the probe, referred by the Senate on February 25, should be halted until a ruling on her motion for an interlocutory injunction.

On March 4, Justice Egwuatu granted her prayers, ruling that any action taken during the pendency of the suit would be null and void. The judge also allowed Akpoti-Uduaghan to serve the 2nd to 4th defendants through substituted means, including pasting court documents at the National Assembly or publishing them in two national newspapers.

The court further directed the defendants to show cause within 72 hours of being served why an interlocutory injunction should not be granted to restrain them from proceeding with the investigation without granting Akpoti-Uduaghan the privileges stipulated in the 1999 Constitution, the Senate Standing Orders 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

At Monday’s hearing, counsel for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants claimed they had not been served with the suit’s processes. However, the plaintiff’s lawyer countered that all parties had been served, with affidavits of service already before the court. After reviewing the records, Justice Egwuatu confirmed the service of all documents.

Counsel for Senate President Akpabio, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), requested an adjournment to allow for the regularization of all processes. Other defence lawyers aligned with his request, stating that it would enable a smooth and expedited hearing at the next sitting.

Justice Egwuatu then ordered all relevant processes to be filed and served before the next hearing date, which he scheduled for March 25.

Meanwhile, in a Senate plenary presided over by Akpabio on Thursday, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months following the Senate’s consideration of the committee report led by Imasuem.