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Justice Obiora Egwuatu had antecedently granted an ex-parte bid connected March 4, restraining the Senate Committee connected Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from conducting disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has taken a caller crook arsenic she filed a contempt exertion against Senate President Godswill Akpabio for allegedly disobeying a valid tribunal order.
In Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is listed arsenic the plaintiff, portion the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee connected Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, Senator Neda Imasuem, are named arsenic the archetypal to 4th defendants and alleged contemnors.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu had antecedently granted an ex-parte bid connected March 4, restraining the Senate Committee connected Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from conducting disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Justice Egwuatu, successful the ex-parte exertion supported by a 25-paragraph affidavit filed by Natasha's ineligible squad connected March 3, 2025, and argued connected March 4, specifically said "an bid of this honourable tribunal is made declaring that immoderate enactment taken during the pendency of his Suit is null, void and of nary effect whatsoever."
Despite the beingness of the tribunal order, which was wide publicised, the Senate proceeded to suspend Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months implicit alleged misconduct.
The Senate besides directed that her bureau beryllium sealed and ordered her to manus implicit each Senate spot successful her possession to the Clerk of the National Assembly for the duration of the suspension.
The determination followed the adoption of a study by the Committee connected Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South.
The committee initiated disciplinary proceedings aft the February 20 incidental betwixt Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio.
In effect to the Senate’s disregard for the tribunal order, Akpoti-Uduaghan, done her lawyers, filed a Form 48 Notice of Disobedience of Court Order astatine the Federal High Court successful Abuja.
The application, brought nether Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, 2004, and the inherent jurisdiction of the court, serves arsenic a announcement of the consequences of disobedience to the tribunal bid issued connected March 4, 2025.
The tribunal document, dated March 7 and signed by the registrar, was obtained by SaharaReporters connected Thursday.
It reads, "TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act, your wilful disobedience of the bid of this Honourable Court, Coram: Hon. Justice O.A. Egwuatu J. made connected 4th time of March 2025, renders you liable for contempt of court, for which you whitethorn beryllium committed to situation unless you comply with the said order.
"TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that contempt being duly served with the enrolled bid connected the 5th Day of March 2025, you, the Defendants/Contemnors, person deliberately and contumaciously disregarded its binding directive, proceeding with acts successful flagrant defiance of the authorization of this Honourable Court. A transcript of the said bid is annexed hereto for easiness of reference."
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