Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central, has instituted a contempt application against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over her suspension.
On March 4, the federal high court in Abuja restrained the
senate committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions from conducting
disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Obiora Egwuatu, the presiding judge, gave the order
following an ex parte application filed by counsels to the Kogi senator.
Forty-eight hours later, the senate suspended
Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged misconduct.
The upper chamber also approved that the senator’s office be
locked, and she must hand over all senate properties in her possession to the
clerk of the national assembly for the duration of the suspension.
The decision was taken following the adoption of the report
by the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions. The committee is
headed by Neda Imasuen, a senator representing Edo south.
The committee initiated disciplinary proceedings after the
February 20 incident between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio.
During the plenary, the Kogi senator disrupted proceedings
by rejecting her assigned seat, defying the senate president’s order, and
repeatedly raising a point of order despite being overruled.
THE CONTEMPT APPLICATION
In the contempt application, Akpabio, Imasuen, and the clerk of the national assembly were listed as respondents.
The Kogi senator told the court that her suspension from the
senate on March 6 contravened the restraining order issued by the court.
Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that the respondents “deliberately
and contumaciously disregarded” the restraining order issued by the court.
In a notice of disobedience of a court order signed by the
registrar, the court warned the respondents that their actions may lead to
their committal to prison.
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