Justice Obiora Egwatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned the case filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, to March 25, 2025.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had approached the court seeking an order to prevent the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from investigating her. The court granted an interim order last week; however, the Senate went ahead to suspend the senator for six months on Thursday after reviewing the Committee’s report.
During today’s proceedings, lawyers for the first, second, and third defendants stated they had not been served. In response, Natasha’s lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), informed the court that all parties had been duly served and provided affidavits of service. After reviewing the affidavits, Justice Egwatu confirmed that all processes had been properly served.
Counsel for the third defendant, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, requested an adjournment to allow for the harmonization of all processes. Other counsels supported this, noting that it would enable faster hearings at the next session.
Justice Egwatu granted the adjournment, rescheduling the case for March 25, 2025, and ordered that all relevant processes be served on the parties before the next date.
Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Peter Nwaebonyi, who was present in court, emphasized the importance of legal services and proper service of documents. He also noted it was unusual for the court to intervene in Senate matters, highlighting that the Senate was simply complying with the court’s request as a responsible and law-abiding institution.
