News
Constituents Drag Akpabio, Senate to Court Over Suspension of Natasha
A group of constituents from Kogi Central Senatorial District have dragged the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Nigerian Senate before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the suspension of their senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The legal action, filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/654/2025, is challenging the six-month suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, which the Senate imposed following a rejected sexual harassment petition she filed against Akpabio. The suit, led by prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), argues that the suspension violates the constituents’ constitutional right to representation.
Neda Imaseun, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Conduct, Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, had announced the suspension in March, citing what he called a “total violation of Senate rules” by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
However, the plaintiffs argue that the Senate’s decision lacks lawful justification and contravenes democratic principles. They are invoking Article 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees citizens the right to freely participate in government through elected representatives.
“The suspension has effectively silenced the voice of Kogi Central in national debates and legislative processes,” the suit states, accusing the Senate of overreaching its powers.
The applicants — Ovavu Iliyasu, Isah Otini, Onivehu Amoto, Isah Mediant, Ogunmola Samuel, Umar Oyiza, Megida Sadiq, Siyaka Akinlade, Michael Ademola, and Ananyi Omeiza — are seeking a court declaration that the Senate acted beyond its constitutional powers.
They are asking the court to nullify the suspension and restore all of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rights and privileges, including access to her office, full participation in Senate proceedings, and payment of her entitlements. Additionally, they are seeking an injunction to prevent the Senate from taking any further actions that could infringe on their fundamental rights.
As of press time, no date has been fixed for the hearing.
According to him, such financial mishandling not only disrupts critical public services and projects but also results in major losses to the nation’s purse—resources that could have been channelled into crucial services and developmental efforts, as laid out in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.
Speaker Abbas, thereafter setup a Special Committee to be chaired by Rep. Chinedu Martins to immediately launch a probe into the “Utilisation of take-off grants, bailout funds, and interventions allocated to MDAs, government institutions, and GOEs from 2015 to present.”
The FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, expressed satisfaction with the progress on the Abuja light rail project, reaffirming its May 29 delivery as sacrosanct.
He made these assurances after inspecting the ongoing construction of access roads to the train stations on Wednesday, from Metro Train Station in the Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Reassuring journalists accompanying him, the minister reiterated that President Bola Tinubu would commission the rail project on May 29 to mark his second year in office.
The visited stations were Wupa station near Idu and Bassanjiwa station near the airport.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see the contractors’ progress,” Wike explained.
“We are working day and night to fulfill our promise to President Tinubu and FCT residents. By May, Mr. President will ride on the Metro line.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen are currently invading some communities in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to sources, the herdsmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 04:15pm on Thursday.
“Our lives are in danger this evening, armed Fulani herdsmen, about 600 in numbers have taken over our communities this evening,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
“They’re currently moving around towns in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. No security personnel at all, Governor Alia didn’t send security, they said operation will start soon once they (herders) have observed the place.”
The insecurity situation in Benue has been alarming in recent weeks with attacks from gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The media had reported that suspected herdsmen again unleashed terror in Benue State, attacking three communities in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) on Wednesday, just a day after 11 people were killed in a deadly raid on Otobi community.
The latest victims of the escalating violence were Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju, communities that had previously suffered an attack in February, which left five people dead.
However, the renewed attack has created fear and mass displacement among residents, with women and children fleeing to safety.
Local sources say the death toll from the fresh attack remains unclear, but several casualties are feared.
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