Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 27 to deliver a final judgment in the case filed by suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is challenging her suspension from the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan took legal action after the Senate, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, suspended her over allegations of misconduct.
She argues that the suspension was unjust and influenced by bias.
In her suit, Akpoti-Uduaghan named the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuem, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, as defendants.
Originally presided over by Justice Obiorah Egwuatu, the case was reassigned to Justice Binta Nyako after the former stepped down.
At Monday’s hearing, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Jibrin Okutekpa, informed the court that all relevant documents had been submitted as directed.
Lawyers for the Senate and Senate President, Paul Daudu and Ekwo Ejembi, confirmed that their documents had also been filed but raised concerns about Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly violating a court order.
The Senate’s legal team accused her of contempt after she posted a satirical apology to the Senate President on her Facebook page on March 27 and published it in newspapers.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s other lawyer, Michael Numan, denied the contempt charge, asserting that the statement attributed to her was not connected to her.
He also reminded the court of a similar motion they had filed, accusing the defendants of disobeying court orders.