The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other respondents to file their defense in a suit brought by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the directive on Monday after confirming from court records that all parties had been duly served with the case documents.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed an ex-parte motion (FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025) against the Clerk of the National Assembly (NASS), the Senate, Senate President Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuem, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct.
The lawmaker is seeking an order preventing the Senate committee from proceeding with an investigation into her alleged misconduct during a plenary session on February 20, following a Senate referral on February 25.
She argues that the investigation violates her legislative privileges.
On March 4, Justice Egwuatu granted her request, ruling that any action taken while the suit was pending would be null and void.
He also permitted Akpoti-Uduaghan to serve the defendants by substituted means, including publishing the court documents in two national newspapers.
At Monday’s hearing, legal representatives for the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senate President Akpabio claimed they had not received the legal documents.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), refuted this, stating that affidavits of service were already before the court.
Upon reviewing the court records, Justice Egwuatu confirmed that all defendants had been properly served.
Following this, Akpabio’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), requested an adjournment to allow all legal processes to be properly filed and harmonized.
Other defense counsels supported the motion, arguing that it would help expedite the case.
Justice Egwuatu granted the request and ordered all parties to ensure their filings were completed before the next hearing. The case was adjourned to March 25 for further proceedings.
The development comes days after the Senate, in a session presided over by Akpabio, suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months following a report by the Ethics Committee led by Senator Imasuem.
