By Hagxy Don
In a dramatic twist at the Abuja Federal High Court, Justice Obiora Egwuatu has issued an interim order halting the Senate Ethics Committee’s probe into Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, effectively shielding the Kogi Central lawmaker from potential suspension.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, followed an ex parte application by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, putting all proceedings on hold until further judicial review. This marks a significant setback for the Senate leadership, which had been moving swiftly to discipline the senator.
The controversy erupted on February 20, 2025, when Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered that her Senate seat had been reassigned without prior notice. Interpreting it as an attempt to undermine her influence and mute her voice, she outrightly refused to comply, leading to a standoff with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Chief Whip Tahir Monguno justified the move, citing Senate rules and party realignments, but Akpoti-Uduaghan’s defiance escalated the dispute into a full-blown confrontation. The Senate, in response, unanimously referred her to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, with expectations of disciplinary action within two weeks.
Undeterred, Akpoti-Uduaghan countered with a legal assault of her own, slamming Senate President Akpabio and his aide, Mfon Patrick, with a staggering ₦100 billion defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit stems from a Facebook post, allegedly orchestrated at Akpabio’s behest, which she claims tarnished her legislative credentials and personal image.
The senator is demanding hefty damages and a public apology, insisting the publication subjected her to public ridicule. With the court’s intervention, the battle now shifts from the Senate floor to the courtroom, setting the stage for a legal showdown that could redefine power dynamics in the upper chamber.