The Traffic

Akpabio vs. Natasha: Power Struggle in the Senate Takes Legal Twist

By Achimi muktar

Senate President Godswill Akpabio is pushing back against the legal challenge brought by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, arguing that the Federal High Court in Abuja has no authority to meddle in Senate affairs.

During Monday’s court proceedings, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), maintained that the judiciary should not interfere in what they called the “internal business” of the Senate. However, Natasha’s lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), countered, stating that all legal documents had been properly served, dismissing Akpabio’s objections as a delay tactic.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu reviewed the case and confirmed that service had been properly executed, leading Akpabio’s team to push for an adjournment, which was granted. The next hearing is now set for March 25, with the judge ordering all parties to file and exchange necessary documents before then.

This legal battle comes after the Senate Ethics Committee defied a March 4 court order that barred disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan, proceeding to suspend her for six months. The Senate, in an official statement, denied that her suspension was linked to her allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio. Instead, it accused her of misconduct, defiance, and disrupting Senate proceedings.

The case now raises critical questions about the limits of judicial intervention in legislative matters and whether Akpoti-Uduaghan’s fight will reshape Senate politics or be crushed by the weight of parliamentary power. The March 25 hearing is set to be a pivotal moment in this unfolding political drama.