Court Halts Senate Probe of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

A Federal High Court in Abuja issued a significant ruling that restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with a disciplinary investigation against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central. This judicial intervention, led to the halt of Court probe on Senator Natasha.

The Court’s Intervention

The latest development came on March 4, 2025, when Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim injunction halting the Senate Ethics Committee’s probe into Akpoti-Uduaghan’s conduct. The ruling followed an ex parte application filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, which sought to prevent what they described as an imminent and unjust suspension. The court’s order effectively paused the committee’s proceedings, originally set to potentially recommend an indefinite suspension, pending further judicial review.

This judicial intervention has been interpreted as a victory for Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had previously demanded that any probe into her actions be broadcast live for transparency, a stance she articulated in a February 27, 2025, Facebook post reported by Punch. Her insistence on openness reflected her broader narrative of resisting what she portrayed as an attempt to silence her within the Senate.

The Root Cause: A Clash Over Seating

The origins of this dispute trace back to February 20, 2025, during a plenary session of the Nigerian Senate. According to Punch Newspapers, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), discovered that her assigned seat in the Senate chamber had been changed without prior notification. Interpreting this as an attempt to marginalize her visibility and influence, she refused to occupy the new seat, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules, which protects the privileges of members. This act of defiance sparked a heated confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who ordered her to comply or face removal from the chamber by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

The seating dispute appears to be a symptom of deeper tensions. In subsequent public statements, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that her troubles in the Senate stemmed from rejecting alleged sexual advances by Akpabio, a claim she made during an appearance on Arise Television on February 28, 2025. These explosive allegations, reported by Punch, intensified the conflict, drawing responses from political figures, civil society, and even Akpabio’s family. The Senate, through spokesperson Senator Adaramodu, clarified that the official probe was limited to her alleged breach of parliamentary decorum and not the harassment claims, which Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted should be investigated transparently.

Legal Action and Defamation Suits

The situation quickly spiraled into a legal battle. On February 25, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio and his aide, Mfon Patrick, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, as reported by Punch. The suit, marked CV/737/25, alleged that defamatory statements published on Patrick’s Facebook page, purportedly at Akpabio’s behest, disparaged her legislative competence and personal dignity. The post in question reportedly suggested that Akpoti-Uduaghan viewed her senatorial role as “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers,” a statement her legal team argued was intended to provoke public disdain.

In response, Akpabio’s wife, Unoma Akpabio, filed a counter-lawsuit on March 1, 2025, seeking N250 billion in damages for defamation and violation of her fundamental human rights, according to Punch. She accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of making false and scandalous statements that caused emotional trauma to her family, further escalating the personal stakes in this feud. These dueling lawsuits showed the intensity of the conflict, transforming a parliamentary disagreement into a multifaceted legal and public relations showdown.

Responses

The court’s decision elicited varied reactions. Supporters of Akpoti-Uduaghan, including gender rights advocates and figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, hailed it as a step toward protecting female legislators from harassment and intimidation. Atiku, in a February 28, 2025, statement covered by Punch, had called for a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the harassment allegations, emphasizing the need for a Senate that upholds integrity and fosters an environment where women can serve without fear. Similarly, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on March 2, 2025, demanded a probe into the rift, warning of its damage to the Senate’s public image, as reported by Punch.

Conversely, Akpabio’s camp, including the South-South Women Congress, condemned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s behavior as disrespectful and urged her to apologize or face sanctions under Senate rules, per a February 21, 2025, Punch report. Senate spokesperson Adaramodu, speaking on Arise TV on March 3, 2025, maintained that the committee’s focus remained solely on the seating dispute and that internal Senate matters were not typically actionable in court, a position that now faces legal scrutiny given the injunction.

The feud has also sparked public discourse, with civil society groups and commentators like Reno Omokri weighing in. Omokri, in a March 2, 2025, X post cited by Punch, urged the Senate to investigate the allegations against Akpabio while distancing himself from similar claims made against him by Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Subscribe to Notifications