The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Senate President Godswill Akpabio and others to file their defence in a lawsuit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central).
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the directive after confirming that all parties had been served with court processes. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, names the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuem, chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, as defendants.
Akpoti-Uduaghan seeks an interim injunction preventing the committee from investigating her over alleged misconduct linked to events at the February 20 plenary. On March 4, Justice Egwuatu granted her request, ruling that any action taken during the suit’s pendency would be null and void.
The judge also approved substituted service, allowing court documents to be delivered via the Clerk of the National Assembly or posted at its premises. He then ordered the defendants to justify why an interlocutory injunction should not be granted to halt the investigation.
At Monday’s hearing, defence lawyers claimed they had not received the suit’s documents, but Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, Michael Numa (SAN), argued otherwise, citing affidavits of service. After reviewing court records, Justice Egwuatu confirmed all parties had been served and ordered the defendants to file their responses before the next hearing on March 25.
Meanwhile, the Senate, presided over by Akpabio, suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months after reviewing Imasuem’s committee report.
