The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 27 to deliver judgment in the contempt claims filed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the suit filed by suspended Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Justice Binta Nyako will also deliver judgment on the preliminary objection filed by all the defendants in the suit, including the senate president, challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
When proceedings kicked off on Tuesday, the embattled lawmaker, through her team of lawyers led by Jubril Okutekpa, SAN, urged the court to invalidate her suspension which she said was done in disobedience to a valid court order.
They also urged the court to dismiss any motion before the court, filed by the defendants, on contempt, against Natasha.
The the first and second defendants, the Clerk of the National Assembly a however filed an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.
They are also urging the court to allow a motion for contempt of court filed against Natasha on grounds of the satirical apology letter posted on her social media page, after the court had ordered parties to desist from taking the matters already in court to the media.
Senator Godswill Akpabio who is the 3rd defendant in the matter, filed a motion urging the court to order the plaintiff to withdraw and take down the satirical apology letter made on her Facebook page.
While praying the court to dismiss the case, Akpabio’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, noted that the case filed was targeted on an issue that has already been overtaken by events and there were no amendments by the plaintiff to the effect after the matter started
After listening to all the lawyers in the matter, trial Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, adjourned till June 27 later date for judgment.
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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is contending, among other things, her right to fair hearing before the Senate, before she was suspended
The defendants in the suit are Clerk of the National Assembly, The Senate, The Senate President, The Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Nedamwen Imasuen, as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents respectively.
Justice Binta Nyako took over the matter following the recusal of the previous judge, Obiora Egwuatu, who had in a ruling on March 25, returned the case-file after the Senate President accused him of bias.
Justice Egwuatu had on March 4, issued an interim order that stopped the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions from going ahead with the disciplinary proceedings initiated against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over an allegation that she flouted rules of the legislative house.
(Editor: Oloyede Oworu)
