Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday for a hearing regarding her suspension by the Senate over allegations of misconduct, which stemmed from claims of bias by one of the parties involved in the case.
In her motion, Akpoti-Uduaghan named the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, as defendants.
The case, reassigned to Justice Binta Nyako after Justice Obiorah Egwuatu withdrew from the matter, was called for hearing on Monday. Counsel for the suspended senator, Jibrin Okutekpa (SAN), informed the court that the plaintiff had filed all necessary documents in compliance with the court’s earlier directive.
Meanwhile, counsel for the Senate, Paul Daudu (SAN), and Senate President’s counsel, Ekwo Ejembi, confirmed they had also submitted their respective filings. However, they brought to the court’s attention a motion alleging disobedience to a prior court order by the plaintiff, noting that the plaintiff had already responded to the motion.
Numan argued that the statement attributed to the plaintiff had no connection to her and asserted that the alleged contemptuous remarks were unrelated to his client.
The suspended senator emphasized that her viral letter focused on her sexual harassment allegations against the Senate President, which she noted was distinct from the court case regarding her alleged unlawful suspension from the Senate.