Court Halts Senate Probe Of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the federal capital territory, has restrained the Senate from proceeding with the scheduled public hearing on the alleged misconduct of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi State Central.

Natasha had been invited for the hearing rescheduled to proceed on Wednesday, March 5, over her conduct at the Senate the week earlier when she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of victimising her by reallocating her seat.

She is currently involved in a face-off with Akpabio, accusing him of sexually harassing her

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who granted the interim injunction among others, ordered the National Assembly, Senate and the Senate Committee on Ethics to suspend the hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

The defendants, including the Clerk of the National, the clerk of the Senate and the Committee on Ethics, are to show cause within 72 hours why an interlocutory injunction to stop the hearing should not be granted.

According to reports, the Senate is bound to question the court order on the claim that one arm of government, that is, the propriety of the judiciary, is stopping the legislative branch from proceeding with its functions.

(The Sun, excluding headline)