Justice Obiora Egwatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed the suit filed by the senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for hearing until March 25, 2025.
The senator had prayed the court for an order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges of the Senate from investigating her.
The court granted the order last week, but the Senate suspended the senator for six months on Thursday after it considered the committee’s report.
During the proceedings, Natasha’s counsel, Michael Numa (SAN), informed the court that all parties had been served and that affidavits of service were before the court.
After going through the affidavits of service before the court, Justice Egwatu confirmed service of all processes on all defendants.
At this point, counsel to the third defendant, the Senate President, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, prayed the court for an adjournment so that all processes could be harmonised.
Other counsels supported the move, stressing that this would facilitate an accelerated hearing at the next adjourned date.
In his ruling, Justice Egwatu adjourned the matter to March 25th, 2025, and ordered that all the relevant processes be served on parties before that date.
The deputy chief whip of the Senate, Peter Nwaebonyi, who was present in court, says legal service is very important. He added that parties can only study the matter and respond accordingly when they are properly served.
He pointed out that it was strange for the court to interfere in the affairs of the Senate, as the upper chamber only answered the court’s call to be a responsible and law-abiding institution.
