Court to rule on contempt claims in Natasha Akpoti’s suit against senate June 27

The federal high court in Abuja has fixed June 27 to deliver judgment on the contempt claims and preliminary objection in the suit filed by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, challenging her suspension. 

Defendants in the suit are the senate, clerk of the national assembly, Godswill Akpabio, and chairman of the senate committee on ethics.

The Kogi senator was in court on Tuesday to observe the proceedings.

After lawyers of the applicant and defendants identified and adopted their processes, Binta Nyako, the presiding judge, ruled that she would deliver judgment on the contempt claims filed by the parties.

Nyako said he would also deliver judgment on the preliminary objection filed by the senate president challenging the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

“I want to believe that all processes are in. What I am going to do is to first of all look at the issues of contempt and take a decision on it,” she said.

“Then I will look at the notices of preliminary objection. If they succeed, that is the end of the case and if they don’t, I will look at the originating summons filed by the plaintiff.”

BACKGROUND

In March, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a suit to stop the senate committee on ethics and public petitions from instituting disciplinary proceedings against her.

On March 4, Obiora Egwuatu, the judge,  issued an order an order restraining the senate from commencing disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan following an ex parte application filed by counsels to the senator.

Two days after the judgment, the senate suspended the Kogi senator for six months over alleged gross misconduct.

The decision followed the adoption of the report by the committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions.

On March 19, Egwuatu vacated his March 4 order restraining the senate from suspending the Kogi senator.

At the resumed court session on March 25, Egwuatu announced his decision to recuse himself from the case after taking the appearance of lawyers for the parties in the suit.

He ordered that the case file be transferred to John Tsoho, the chief judge of the federal high court, for reassignment. The case was then reassigned to Binta Nyako.