A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the hearing of the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) to March 25. The adjournment allows the respondents, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, time to file their responses.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, has the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the President of the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuem (Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct) as respondents.
Akpoti-Uduaghan contends that her right to a fair hearing was denied in the Senate’s investigation into allegations of misconduct against her. She is seeking an order to prevent the Senate from proceeding with the investigation without granting her due privileges as outlined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
Earlier, on February 4, Justice Obiora Egwuatu had issued an interim injunction directing the respondents to explain within 72 hours why her request for an interlocutory injunction should not be granted.
At the court session on Monday, lawyers representing the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Akpabio claimed they had yet to be served with the necessary court documents. However, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), insisted that all respondents had been duly served, and the court record confirmed this.
Following a request from Akpabio’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) for an adjournment to allow all parties to regularize their filings, Justice Egwuatu ordered that all relevant processes be filed and served before the next hearing date.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to March 25 for further proceedings.
