Abuja Court Stops Senate From Probing Kogi Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
A Federal High Court sitting at Abuja Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has stopped the Senate Ethics Committee from proceeding with its planned investigation of the actions of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
A Federal High Court sitting at Abuja Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has stopped the Senate Ethics Committee from proceeding with its planned investigation of the actions of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. representing the Kogi Central, in the National Assembly.
issued an interim order stopping the
The court presided by Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the interim order stopping the Senate investigations on Tuesday, following an ex parte application filed by counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The ruling is coming against the backdrop of the plans by the Senate committee to convene and impose an indefinite suspension on Natasha, following her accusations of sexual harassments against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The court presided by Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the interim order stopping the Senate investigations on Tuesday, following an ex parte application filed by counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The ruling is coming against the backdrop of the plans by the Senate committee to convene and impose an indefinite suspension on Natasha, following her accusations of sexual harassments against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The court injunction halts all proceedings on the matter pending further judicial review.
Trouble started in the Senate, following earlier reports that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan's seat had been reassigned to another senator without prior notice on February 20, during a Senate session.
Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno cited Senate rules to justify the reassignment, explaining that changes were necessary due to shifts in party affiliations among senators.
However, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that Senator Akpabio had other intensions for re-assigning her seat, leading to a hot exchanges of words between her and the Senate President Akpabio, who directed the sergeant-at-arms to enforce the seating arrangement.
Following the seating arrangement dispute, the Senate unanimously voted to refer Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for a disciplinary review.
The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, was tasked with submitting its findings within two weeks.
Consequently, Senator -Uduaghan filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio and his aide, Mfon Patrick. The suit alleged that a Facebook post authored by Patrick, at Akpabio’s behest, contained defamatory remarks about her, including comments on her legislative competence and personal appearance.
In the lawsuit, Natasha sought damages and a public apology, claiming the publication harmed her reputation and subjected her to public ridicule.
She has since the incident accused the Senate President of making sexual advances towards her, which Akpabio has since denied, even as his wife has also threatened sued the Kogi senator.
Trouble started in the Senate, following earlier reports that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan's seat had been reassigned to another senator without prior notice on February 20, during a Senate session.
Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno cited Senate rules to justify the reassignment, explaining that changes were necessary due to shifts in party affiliations among senators.
However, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that Senator Akpabio had other intensions for re-assigning her seat, leading to a hot exchanges of words between her and the Senate President Akpabio, who directed the sergeant-at-arms to enforce the seating arrangement.
Following the seating arrangement dispute, the Senate unanimously voted to refer Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for a disciplinary review.
The committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun, was tasked with submitting its findings within two weeks.
Consequently, Senator -Uduaghan filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio and his aide, Mfon Patrick. The suit alleged that a Facebook post authored by Patrick, at Akpabio’s behest, contained defamatory remarks about her, including comments on her legislative competence and personal appearance.
In the lawsuit, Natasha sought damages and a public apology, claiming the publication harmed her reputation and subjected her to public ridicule.
She has since the incident accused the Senate President of making sexual advances towards her, which Akpabio has since denied, even as his wife has also threatened sued the Kogi senator.
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