A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with a disciplinary investigation into Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central. The ruling, delivered on Tuesday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, came in response to an ex parte application submitted by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team.
The issue traces back to February 20, when the Kogi Central senator had a heated exchange with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements. Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to accept her designated seat, openly challenging Akpabio’s directive and persistently raising a point of order despite being overruled. Senator Yemi Adaramodu, representing Ekiti South, later highlighted the incident during a plenary session, arguing that it had damaged the Senate’s reputation. He noted that efforts to correct public perceptions had failed, as opinions were already shaped by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s defiance.
In response, the Senate decided last Tuesday to refer the matter to its Ethics Committee for disciplinary action. This followed the adoption of a report presented by Adaramodu during plenary, with senators unanimously agreeing via a voice vote, presided over by Akpabio, to send the case to the committee. Akpabio instructed the panel to thoroughly examine the incident and provide a report back to the Senate.
However, the court’s intervention has now put the committee’s investigation on hold.
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