A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with a disciplinary hearing against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Tuesday after hearing an ex parte application from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team.
The dispute began on February 20, when Akpoti-Uduaghan clashed with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seat allocation. She refused to accept her designated seat, repeatedly raising a point of order despite Akpabio’s rulings against her.
During a plenary session, Senator Yemi Adaramodu of Ekiti South argued that the incident had damaged the Senate’s reputation. He noted that efforts to clarify the chamber’s stance had been ineffective, as public opinion had already been shaped by the controversy.
In response, the Senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Ethics Committee for review. This decision was reached during last Tuesday’s plenary, after lawmakers considered and adopted Adaramodu’s report. A voice vote confirmed the referral, with Akpabio directing the committee to investigate and report back.
The court’s ruling now puts a hold on any disciplinary actions pending further legal proceedings.