BY ANTHONY OCHELA, ABUJA
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a contempt charge at the Federal High Court, Abuja against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and two others over her suspension by the Senate for six-months.
Also named in the charge, filed under Form 48 are the Clerk of the National Assembly and Senator Neda Imasuem who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct.
Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that the action of the Senate in suspending her directly violates a court order issued on March 4, which restrained the defendants from taking such action.
Following her application, the court, through a notice signed by its Registrar under Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act 2004, warned the defendants of the consequences of defying its directive which it said could result in imprisonment.
According to Form 48, the defendants “deliberately and contumaciously disregarded” the court’s directive and acted in defiance of its authority.
It was further alleged that an enrolled copy of the interim injunction was duly served on them on March 5.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu had earlier issued the injunction following an ex-parte application by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Michael Numa, SAN.
The order restrained the Senate Committee from proceeding with its investigation into the senator’s alleged misconduct related to events at the February 20 plenary session, pending a full hearing of the matter.
The court also directed the defendants to justify why an interlocutory injunction should not be issued against them, preventing any disciplinary action that would infringe upon Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legislative privileges under the Nigerian Constitution, Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
In addition, it declared that any action taken while the case remains pending would be null and void.
Justice Egwuatu also permitted Akpoti-Uduaghan to serve court documents on the defendants through substituted means, such as delivering them to the Clerk of the National Assembly, pasting them at the National Assembly premises, or publishing them in two national newspapers.
In response, Senate President Akpabio challenged the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that it has no authority to interfere in Senate matters.
Further hearings on the case are scheduled for March 25.
