Mr. Jibril Okutepa (SAN), counsel to the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has urged Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja to consolidate all pending applications with the main lawsuit in the ongoing case against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and three other defendants.
Okutepa addressed the court, stating that the case was being heard for the first time, following its transfer from Justice Obiora Egwuatu’s court.
He confirmed that all necessary documents had been filed and shared among parties, with one exception, emphasizing the urgency of the matter, given that his client’s suspension was only temporary.
Okutepa further said that his client eagerly sought a swift and speedy resolution to the case.
Counsel to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Charles Iyoila and Mr. Paul Daudu, representing the Senate, raised no objections to Okutepa’s application.
Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) who represented Akpabio, and Mr. Umeh Kalu (SAN), who represented Sen. Neda Imasuem – Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct – however, objected to Okutepa’s application.
Nyako ruled in favour of Okutepa, deciding that the court would hear all pending applications, including preliminary objections, together with the substantive suit.
She subsequently adjourned until May 12 for hearing.
Before giving her ruling, Nyako prohibited all parties involved in the suit, including their lawyers, from granting press interviews or streaming court proceedings on social media, relating to the case.
The judge issued the order on Friday following a complaint by Ogunwumiju (SAN), that the plaintiff was moving from one television house to another, granting press interviews on issues relating to her case currently pending before the court.
At the day’s proceeding, he complained that the plaintiff was granting press interviews on issues related to her case, which is currently pending before the court, by visiting various television stations, including BBC and CNN.
Nyako, who noted that the case was sub-judice, barred all parties from publicizing the case.
Through the lawsuit, Natasha is challenging the decision of the Senate to suspend her for six months over alleged misconduct.
The plaintiff argued that she was denied a fair hearing before the Senate suspended her.
Prior to Justice Nyako’s involvement, Justice Obiora Egwuatu initially handled the case but recused himself on March 25, 2025, after Akpabio filed a petition questioning his impartiality.
The controversy between Sen. Akpabio and Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan erupted on February 20, when she refused to relocate to her newly assigned seat, triggering a heated debate.
The Senate imposed a six-month suspension on her on March 6, 2025, after reviewing the report of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Affairs, which found her guilty of misconduct.
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