The Federal High Court in Abuja has reversed its earlier decision that stopped the Senate from taking any actions while Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case against Senate President Godswill Akpabio was ongoing.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu made the new ruling on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, lifting the restrictions on Senate activities related to the case.
Earlier, Akpoti-Uduaghan had sued the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuem, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct. She asked the court to stop the committee from investigating her over allegations of misconduct, which arose from a heated argument during a Senate session on February 20.
On March 4, Justice Egwuatu granted her request and ordered the Senate not to take any action against her until the case was fully resolved. He also told the defendants to appear in court within 72 hours to explain why they should not be permanently stopped from investigating her.
Despite the court order, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months on March 6, 2025, accusing her of breaking Senate rules.
During the latest hearing, Justice Egwuatu ruled that lifting the restrictions on Senate actions would not harm Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case.
The court has set March 25, 2025, as the date to hear all pending applications.
The conflict between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio began when she refused to change her seat in the Senate chamber, leading to a confrontation with Akpabio.
On February 28, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of making inappropriate advances toward her during a visit to his home in December 2023. She later filed a defamation lawsuit against him.
