The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, March 10, postponed the hearing of a case filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, seeking to stop the Senate from investigating her through its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu adjourned the case after the respondents informed the court that they had not yet been officially served with the necessary legal documents.

Earlier, on March 5, Justice Egwuatu had issued an order preventing the Senate committee from taking any disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central. This ruling was based on an ex parte application filed by her legal team. The court order explicitly barred the Senate from proceeding with any sanctions against her over alleged misconduct.

Despite this ruling, the committee went ahead with its probe, but Akpoti-Uduaghan did not appear before it. After concluding its investigation, the committee recommended a six-month suspension for the senator, a decision that was later upheld by the Senate leadership.

During Monday’s proceedings, representatives of the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Nigerian Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the chairman of the ethics committee informed the court that they had yet to receive the required court documents. In response, Justice Egwuatu directed that the defendants be served accordingly and adjourned the case until March 25.

The legal battle began after Akpoti-Uduaghan was invited to appear before the Senate Ethics Committee following a heated exchange between her and Senate President Godswill Akpabio on February 20. Following the argument, the Senate moved to refer her case to the committee for further investigation.

In a recent interview with ARISE TV, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of making inappropriate advances toward her. She claimed that after rejecting his alleged advances, her legislative motions, particularly those concerning the Ajaokuta Steel Company, were consistently sidelined.

In her lawsuit, filed through her lawyer, Sanusi Musa, the senator urged the court to declare any action taken against her while the case was still pending as “null, void, and of no effect.”