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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.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to celebrate President Bola Tinubu, saying his leadership saved the country from a potential implosion.
Shettima said Nigeria’s economy had been teetering on the edge of collapse before Tinubu’s intervention, adding that the country could have faced a different situation.
“The economy was teetering on the edge of collapse, we were on a cliff edge,” the Vice President said.
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“So he literally saved the nation from an implosion. That could have been the scenario. So, instead of demonizing him, Nigerians ought to celebrate this poor man.”
Shettima also called for a return to the drawing board, expressing confidence in the leadership’s commitment and the prospects for the 2027 elections.
“I believe on the bottom of my heart that with this presentation I have seen, and with the commitment of our leadership, by the grace of God, we are going to win,” he said.
Speaking about the 2027 elections, the Vice President reminded his audience that social media platforms should not be mistaken for actual polling stations.
“There are no polling stations on Facebook or Instagram,” he said.
Shettima also expressed gratitude for the efforts made towards promoting the cause of the 2027 elections.
Following observed mis-steps, the Federal Government of Nigeria has withdrawn the eight-count criminal charge brought against the alleged fake Director General (DG) of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Biztellers reports that the matter, in accordance with the counsel of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, (SAN), the matter will be filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), instead of the Federal High Court (FHC).
Consequently, upon an unopposed application for termination by the prosecution counsel and Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), on Monday, Justice Mohammed Umar of a Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, struck out the matter.
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In a motion for the termination of the charges, Oyedepo informed the court that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has carried out a review of the case file of Adeyemi and the charge filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and found some loopholes.
The DPPF added that the documents allegedly forged by Adeyemi during his operations of the fake agency are those that can be prosecuted by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He also informed the court that a new charge has been filed at the High Court of the FCT and that Adeyemi would be expeditiously arraigned afresh.
He therefore urged the judge to strike out the charge as required by law.
Following no objections from Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), who stood in for Adeyemi, Justice Umar subsequently terminated the charge.
Adeniyi, 38, was being tried alongside two others whose whereabouts are unknown, on charges bordering on conspiracy and forgery.
The two others said to be at large were identified as Femi (surname unknown) and Anu (surname unknown).
The charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2025, was entered against the defendant by the DPPF.
To secure a bright energy for her teeming population, Nigeria must sustain the momentum of reform, accelerate investment, and deepen partnerships.
This view was expressed by Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Limited (SNEPCo) Ronald Adams in Lagos at the weekend.
Delivering a keynote address at the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Adams called for regulatory certainty through efficient execution of reforms, sustained investment appeal to enable projects to move more swiftly from opportunity to production and partnership by operators, regulators, NNPC Limited and communities to unlock the full value of Nigeria’s resources.
Adams cited Nigeria’s huge oil and gas resources as an advantage but pointed out: “Resources alone do not guarantee prosperity. Prosperity comes when resources are matched with investment, technology, sound policy and disciplined execution. Success will be determined not by the size of our resources, but by our ability to convert them into investment and economic growth.”
Adams pledged the support of Shell towards a bright energy future of Nigerians. He said: “For more than six decades, Shell has been part of Nigeria’s energy journey. Together with our partners, we have helped develop major energy infrastructure, supported Nigerian businesses, invested in talent, and contributed to economic development. Bonga remains a powerful example of what technology, partnership and Nigerian capability can achieve in deepwater operations. Today, that story continues through Bonga North.”
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Issuing a clarion call for action by all stakeholders, he added: “The world is not standing still. Capital is moving, technology is advancing and competition is intensifying. The countries that attract investment tomorrow are those that improve competitiveness today. Nigeria has begun that journey. Our task is to sustain the momentum and translate reform into projects, projects into growth, and growth into shared prosperity.”
The conference, the 4th in the series had at its theme; “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future: Policy Reform, Capital Mobilisation, and Pathways to a Sustainable Power and Energy Market” and was attended by top government officials, industry captains, energy professionals, and students.
Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat represented Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the guest of honour. SNEPCo was a principal sponsor of the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) and mounted a well-received exhibition on its deepwater operations and social investments across Nigeria.
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