The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to hear a suit instituted by the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpabio, through his team of lawyers led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, queried the powers of the court to meddle in the affairs of the Senate.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu had on March 5, barred the senate committee from taking disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The judge granted the order following an ex parte application filed by her legal team.
In a ruling, the judge stopped the Senate from proceeding with any disciplinary measures against Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleged misconduct at the Senate.
Although the committee went ahead with its sitting, Akpoti-Uduaghan failed to appear before it.
The committee, on the conclusion of its investigation, recommended a suspension for the Kogi Senator to the leadership of the Senate.
Following the recommendation, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months.
At Monday’s proceedings, Ogunwumiju noted that Akpoti-Uduaghan was yet to serve his client court processes to enable him to file the necessary application to challenge its competence.
Aside from Akpabio who was cited as the 3rd defendant in the matter, joined in the suit are; the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate; and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
Meanwhile, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Michael Numa, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, maintained that all the parties were duly served.
He drew the attention of the court to affidavits of service that are already in its record.
After going through the affidavits of service before the court, Justice Obiora Egwatu confirmed that all the defendants were served.
Ogunwumiju then prayed the court to grant a short adjournment for all the processes to be harmonised.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the matter to March 25 and ordered the parties to file and exchange all the necessary processes before the date.
