Akpabio Challenges Court Jurisdiction in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Suspension Case

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Abuja to hear the suit filed by suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. During proceedings on Monday, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kehinde Ogunwumiju, questioned the court’s authority to intervene in what they described as internal Senate affairs.

Ogunwumiju also noted that Akpoti-Uduaghan had yet to properly serve court documents, a procedural step necessary for Akpabio to file his response challenging the competence of the case. Akpabio is listed as the third defendant in the suit, alongside the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate itself, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

In response, counsel to the plaintiff, Michael Numa, SAN, insisted that all parties had been duly served, pointing to affidavits of service already on record. After reviewing the court documents, Justice Obiora Egwuatu confirmed that service had indeed been effected.

Following a request by Akpabio’s counsel for a short adjournment to allow all parties to harmonise their processes, the judge agreed and adjourned the matter to March 25. He also directed all parties to file and exchange necessary court documents before the next hearing.

This legal battle stems from the Senate’s decision to suspend Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, despite a court order issued on March 4 which restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics from proceeding with disciplinary actions while her suit was pending. The Senator is asking the court to declare any action taken by the Committee during the pendency of the case as “null, void, and of no effect.”