By Patrick Idowu
The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Senate from proceeding with its disciplinary review of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, dealing a blow to the upper chamber’s efforts to punish her alleged misconduct.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order following an ex parte application filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team.
The ruling blocks the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from investigating the Kogi Central senator, at least for now.
The Senate had last week referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the committee over what it called “disorderly conduct” during a heated plenary session.
The committee, led by Senator Neda Imaseun (LP, Edo), was given two weeks to submit its findings.
The resolution followed a motion by Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu, who accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of “extreme intransigence” and turning the chamber into a spectacle.
“The Senate is not a platform for content creation but for lawmaking and oversight,” Adaramodu said, calling for discipline. “Where there is sin, there must be penalty.”
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele also defended the probe, saying the Senate’s integrity was at stake.
“We will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited,” he stated.
Despite the court order, Senate President Godswill Akpabio had earlier justified the disciplinary move, suggesting Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions stemmed from unfamiliarity with Senate procedures.
With the court’s intervention, the Senate now faces a dilemma: challenge the ruling or back down from its attempt to discipline the outspoken senator.
