Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has taken legal action against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and others, filing a contempt suit over her six-month suspension from the Senate without pay.
The lawsuit, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, also names the Clerk of the National Assembly and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, as respondents.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension stemmed from allegations of misconduct linked to a heated Senate plenary session on February 20, 2025, and a subsequent referral for investigation on February 25.
However, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court had issued an order on March 4, barring the Senate Committee on Ethics from proceeding with any probe against her.
The senator’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Michael Numa, argued that her suspension violates the court’s directive. The contempt charge, captured in Form 48, seeks to hold Akpabio and the others accountable for defying the court’s ruling.
Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal battle has sparked debates over legislative discipline and the rights of lawmakers, raising questions about the balance of power within the Senate.
