Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled the judgment in the lawsuit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, against her suspension from the National Assembly.
The ruling, initially set for June 27, will now be delivered on July 4.
The court had earlier fixed June 27 as the judgment date after hearing arguments from both sides in the case, which seeks to overturn Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension on the grounds that it was unlawful. However, with less than 24 hours remaining before the scheduled verdict, lawyers involved in the matter received a notice announcing the new date. No explanation was provided for the postponement.
The senator is the sole claimant in the suit, while the respondents include the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate itself, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Nedamwen Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, which was handed down on March 5, stemmed from allegations that she violated Senate rules by refusing to vacate her assigned seat for a newly allocated one. The situation escalated when she engaged in a heated exchange with Akpabio and later accused him of sexual harassment—an allegation he has denied.
Dissatisfied with the Senate’s decision, the senator approached the court, seeking a declaration that her suspension was illegal. She also filed a separate application requesting that Akpabio be held in contempt for allegedly disregarding a court order issued on March 4, which barred the Senate leadership from taking any punitive action against her pending the resolution of the case.
During the final hearing, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, Michael Numan (SAN), urged the court to overturn the suspension, arguing that it was unjust and in violation of due process. He also refuted claims that his client had shown contempt for the court.
On their part, the respondents challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case, describing the lawsuit as baseless and lacking merit. They urged the judge to dismiss it entirely.
After considering submissions from both sides, Justice Nyako initially announced that judgment would be delivered on June 27. The court’s decision was expected to address not only the legality of the suspension but also two related applications concerning alleged disobedience of court orders.
The respondents accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of violating a judicial directive prohibiting parties from discussing the case in the media. Conversely, the senator maintained that the Senate leadership had flouted the March 4 court order by proceeding with her suspension. She further pointed out that senior lawyers, including Chief Olisa Agbakoba and Monday Ubani, had publicly commented on the matter despite the restriction.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has already been absent from the Senate for two months and eight days. With the judgment now deferred to July 4, she will have spent an additional one month and 14 days away from legislative duties, bringing her total suspension period to three months and 21 days before the court’s final ruling.
The outcome of the case is being closely watched, as it could have significant implications for legislative discipline, the separation of powers, and the enforcement of court orders in Nigeria’s political landscape.
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