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Senate vs. Natasha Akpoti: Abuja Court Fixes June 27 For Judgment
A legal showdown between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Nigerian Senate is heading toward a decisive ruling, as the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 27, 2025, to deliver judgment in the matter.
The suit, filed by the senator representing Kogi Central, seeks to invalidate her six-month suspension from the Senate.
On Tuesday, Justice Binta Nyako reserved judgment after listening to final arguments from all parties involved.
Listed as defendants in the case are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Nedamwen Imasuen, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
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Led by senior lawyer Jubril Okutekpa, SAN, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has argued that the suspension violated a subsisting court order and should therefore be declared null and void.
The Senate, however, pushed back, asserting that the issue is an internal legislative matter beyond the court’s jurisdiction.
Furthermore, the defendants accused the lawmaker of flouting an April 4 order of the court that barred all parties from making public statements about the case.
In court, counsel to Senate President Akpabio, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, cited what he called “a satirical apology” that the senator posted on Facebook. According to Ogunwumiju, the post made “a mockery of the order of the court.”
Justice Nyako, before adjourning, said she would first address the issue of contempt raised by both sides before ruling on other objections. She described the legal questions in the case as “recondite issues of law” requiring judicial interpretation.
The dispute has its roots in a plenary session on February 20, when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged what she described as an arbitrary change to her seating position.
Despite being repeatedly overruled by Senate President Akpabio, she insisted on raising points of order — an action that led to her referral to the Ethics Committee.
The matter escalated when, in a February 28 television interview, the senator claimed her ordeal began after she rebuffed alleged personal advances from the Senate President.
In response, she filed an ex-parte motion before the Federal High Court, seeking protection from the Senate’s disciplinary action.
The court, then presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, issued interim orders on March 4 halting the Senate’s planned proceedings against her.
Among the orders was a directive preventing the Senate Committee from continuing its investigation, and compelling the defendants to explain within 72 hours why an interlocutory injunction should not be granted.
The court ruled: “An order of Interim Injunction of this Honourable Court is made restraining the 2nd Defendant/Defendant’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, headed by the 4th Defendant, from proceeding with the purported investigation against the Plaintiff/Applicant for alleged misconduct, sequel to the events that occurred at the plenary of the 2nd Defendant on the 20th day of February 2025, pursuant to the referral by the 2nd Defendant on the 25th of February 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.”
The judge also ordered the service of court documents by substituted means: “…by serving same through the 1st Defendant (Clerk of the National Assembly) or pasting same on the premises of the National Assembly and publishing same in two national dailies.”
However, despite these orders, the Senate Committee proceeded with its inquiry and eventually suspended the senator for six months.
In a later ruling, Justice Egwuatu amended his initial order by lifting the restriction on the Senate’s activities while the case remained unresolved.
Soon after, the Senate President filed a motion challenging the authority of the court to interfere in legislative matters.
He also accused Justice Egwuatu of bias, prompting the judge to recuse himself on March 25.
The case was then reassigned to Justice Nyako.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has commenced the final phase of restoration works on the 330kV Kainji–Birnin Kebbi Transmission Line following the recent collapse of Tower T367 along the line corridor.
TCN, in an update issued on Wednesday, said significant progress had been recorded at the affected location in Yauri, where restoration activities are ongoing.
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According to the company, the collapsed transmission tower has now been completely dismantled and decommissioned, while the conductors and skywire have been properly aligned and prepared for the next stage of the restoration process.
TCN also disclosed that an Emergency Restoration System (ERS) tower has been moved to the site and is ready for installation.
The company said the installation would be followed by cable stringing and other associated works towards the restoration of the affected transmission line.
“Our engineers and technical personnel remain actively engaged at the site and are working hard to ensure a quick completion and restoration of the line.”
TCN said it remained committed to restoring normal bulk transmission as soon as possible and appealed to electricity consumers and other stakeholders affected by the incident for patience and understanding.
“TCN appreciates the patience and understanding of electricity consumers and other stakeholders affected by the incident and assures the public that every effort is being made to restore the line and consequently, normal bulk transmission as soon as possible.”
The National Union of Edible Oil Tanker Drivers of Nigeria (NUEOTDN) has suspended its planned nationwide strike scheduled to begin Wednesday following Federal Government intervention in its dispute with operators in the edible oil industry.
The last-minute suspension averted a potential disruption in the transportation and distribution of edible oil across the country, with the union directing members to maintain normal operations while negotiations continue.
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NUEOTDN President, Ilias Aperun, announced the decision in a statement dated September 22, saying interventions by President Bola Tinubu and the Department of State Services (DSS) had opened discussions towards resolving the issues that prompted the planned industrial action.
“The planned industrial action scheduled to commence today, 23rd September 2026, has been suspended.”
Aperun said the union decided to give the government intervention time to produce results in the interest of economic stability and protection of the edible oil supply chain.
“In the interest of peace, national economic stability and the protection of the edible oil supply chain, the Union has decided to suspend the planned action and give room for the ongoing government intervention,” he said.
The union consequently directed its members and other stakeholders to halt preparations for the strike and continue normal operations pending further directives.
Aperun said discussions aimed at resolving the dispute were already underway, adding that the union remained committed to protecting the welfare and legitimate interests of its members without jeopardising the supply of edible oil.
“The NUEOTDN remains committed to the protection of the public health of the masses, welfare and legitimate interests of its comrades, while also supporting a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the issues at stake,” he said.
He urged stakeholders in the industry to cooperate with the ongoing negotiations, saying constructive engagement remained necessary to resolve the issues raised by the tanker drivers.
The union expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its intervention and urged members to remain calm while awaiting the outcome of the discussions.
Aperun said further developments would be communicated as negotiations progressed.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed the construction of a $12 million Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship, saying the facility will strengthen Nigeria’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ecosystem and create more opportunities for businesses to grow and generate jobs.
The President made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship (ACE) is being developed at the SMEDAN Industrial Development Centre in Idu, Abuja, with funding from the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
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The project is being implemented in partnership with the Federal Government through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The centre will provide workspaces, digital facilities, training, incubation and enterprise support for aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and existing businesses.
According to the statement, the facility has an initial target of supporting 500 entrepreneurs, 400 start-ups and 1,500 MSMEs.
About $5.9 million of the investment will be allocated to construction, while $6.1 million will fund equipment and programmes designed to support entrepreneurs and businesses.
Tinubu said the centre would help establish, strengthen and grow businesses.
“Small businesses are an important part of our economy. They employ people, support families and create activity in communities across the country.
“Many entrepreneurs already have the ideas and the determination to succeed. What they often need is better access to facilities, technology, training and the support that can help their businesses grow.
“This Centre will provide more of that support and strengthen the ecosystem around them,” he said.
The centre is expected to serve businesses in Abuja and surrounding cities, including Kaduna, Jos, Keffi, Lafia, Minna, Makurdi and Lokoja.
It is also expected to contribute to strengthening the wider entrepreneurship and MSME ecosystem across Northern Nigeria.
The President said the Federal Government would continue to expand the conditions that allow small businesses to grow and compete.
“We want more Nigerians to be able to start businesses, grow them and employ others.
“We also want existing small businesses to have better access to the tools and support they need to become stronger and more productive.
“That is important for jobs, incomes and the wider economy,” Tinubu said.
He added that the project complements the administration’s wider investments in digital skills, entrepreneurship, enterprise development and support for MSMEs.
The centre has also been designed to accommodate women and persons with disabilities. It will include accessible facilities and crèche services for women with young children.
While construction is ongoing, SMEDAN, KOICA and UNDP will work with universities, incubators, financial institutions, private-sector organisations and entrepreneur networks to build a wider support system around the centre.
The partners will also identify businesses that can benefit from the centre’s programmes.
Tinubu thanked the South Korean government for the $12 million investment and commended KOICA, UNDP and SMEDAN for advancing the project to the construction stage.
He said Nigeria would continue to welcome investments and partnerships that strengthen local businesses, deepen enterprise development and create more jobs.
“Our economy will be stronger when more Nigerian businesses can start, survive and grow.
“We must keep building the support around them and opening more opportunities for enterprise across the country,” the President said.
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