The Abuja Federal High Court has issued an interim order preventing the Senate Ethics Committee from proceeding with its investigation into Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, effectively suspending the probe.
Presiding Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted the order on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by the senator’s legal team.
The Senate committee had been preparing to deliberate on the matter and potentially impose an indefinite suspension on Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.
This ruling puts all proceedings on hold pending further judicial review.
The controversy began on February 20, 2025, when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered that her seat had been reassigned without prior notice during a Senate session.
Believing this was an attempt to diminish her role and silence her contributions, she refused to take the new seat, sparking a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Chief Whip Tahir Monguno defended the reassignment, citing Senate rules and recent party realignments as justification. However, Akpoti-Uduaghan stood her ground, leading to a heated exchange.
Following the disagreement, the Senate unanimously referred her to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary action. The committee, led by Senator Neda Imaseun, was expected to submit its findings within two weeks.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a ₦100 billion defamation lawsuit against Senate President Akpabio and his aide, Mfon Patrick. The suit alleges that a Facebook post, written at Akpabio’s direction, contained defamatory remarks about her legislative competence and personal appearance, damaging her reputation.
She is demanding damages and a public apology, arguing that the publication subjected her to public ridicule.
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