Justice Obiora Egwatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the lawsuit 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 restrain the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from investigating her. The court granted the order last week, but the Senate, on Thursday, suspended the senator for six months after considering the report of the Committee.
During Thursday’s proceedings, counsel for the first, second, and third defendants informed the court that they had not yet been served. However, Natasha’s counsel, Michael Numa, SAN, clarified that all parties had been properly served and presented affidavits of service to the court.
After reviewing the affidavits of service, Justice Egwatu confirmed that all processes had been duly served on the defendants.
At this point, 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 request, emphasizing that it would facilitate a smoother and more efficient hearing at the next adjourned date.
In his ruling, Justice Egwatu adjourned the case to March 25, 2025, and ordered that all relevant documents be served on the parties before the next hearing.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Peter Nwaebonyi, who was present in court, underscored the importance of proper legal service. He noted that only after all parties are correctly served can they fully study the case and respond accordingly. Nwaebonyi also expressed that it was unusual for the court to intervene in Senate matters, stressing that the Senate acted in response to the court’s summons, as a responsible and law-abiding institution.
