The ongoing legal battle between suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, took a heated turn on Wednesday as both sides fiercely debated a motion to vacate an earlier court order.
At the heart of the dispute is the Federal High Court’s March 4 ruling, which temporarily halted the Senate’s investigation into Natasha over alleged misconduct. The Senate, through its counsel Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), is seeking to overturn a key provision in that ruling, arguing it violates fair hearing principles.
Ojukwu contended that the court had overstepped by issuing an “interlocutory order” affecting the case’s outcome before a final decision. He insisted that the ruling undermines constitutional protections under Section 36(1), which guarantees a fair hearing.
Supporting this stance, legal representatives for the Senate Clerk, Akpabio, and Senate Ethics Committee Chairman Neda Imasuem aligned with Ojukwu’s submission, urging Justice Obiora Egwuatu to void the contested order.
However, Natasha’s lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), fired back, dismissing their arguments as a “defence conspiracy.” He maintained that the Senate had deliberately defied a valid court order and called on the court to enforce disciplinary measures against them.
“Their application is an invitation to anarchy,” Numa argued, emphasizing that all orders issued must be upheld in their entirety. He insisted that the Senate had failed to challenge other parts of the ruling, proving that their request was flawed.
After hearing both sides, Justice Egwuatu stood down the case for a ruling, setting the stage for what could be a decisive moment in Natasha’s ongoing battle against her suspension.
