A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned further hearing in the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central).
The suit was postponed till March 25 to enable the respondents file their responses.
The respondents listed in the suit are: the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the President of the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuen (erstwhile Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct).
On March 4, Justice Obiora Egwuatu heard an ex parte motion filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan and issued some interim injunctions, including an order “directing the respondents to show cause within 72 hours why reliefs in a pending motion on notice for interlocutory injunctions filed by the applicant should not be granted”.
Parts of the reliefs contained in the motion on notice include an order restraining the respondents “from proceeding with the investigation against the plaintiff for alleged misconduct without affording her privileges, as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Senate Standing Order 2023 and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act”.
Akpoti-Uduaghan contended in the substantive suit that the respondents denied her the right to fair hearing.
At the mention of the case yesterday, lawyers to the Clerk, the Senate, and Akpabio told the court that their clients were not yet served with court documents so far filed by the applicant.
The applicant’s lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), said all the respondents had been served and that the evidence of service was already before the court.
Justice Egwuatu went through the court’s file and confirmed that the respondents had been served as required.
Akpabio’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), subsequently sought an adjournment for parties to regularise all processes.
