..says ‘there is separation of powers’
The Senate on Wednesday rebuffed an enrolment order of the Federal High Court, which directed it to halt its investigation into a petition against the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Despite the court’s ruling, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, led by Senator Neda Imasuem, proceeded with deliberations on the matter.
Nigerian Tribune checks revealed that Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had granted an order of interim injunction restraining the Senate and its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct from proceeding with the purported investigation against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The court also granted “an order declaring that any action taken during the pendency of this suit is null, void, and of no effect whatsoever.”
The case was adjourned to 10 March 2025.
Joined as defendants in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, in which the Kogi Central lawmaker is the applicant, are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuem, listed as first, second, third, and fourth defendants, respectively.
However, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, Senator Imasuem who acknowledged the enrolment order, said the committee would not defer to the directive, insisting that no court has the power to interfere in the internal affairs of Parliament.
He stated: “There is a separation of powers. As parliamentarians, we know what our rules say. What we do here isn’t subject to any court. The issue before us is alleged misconduct on the floor of the Senate. It isn’t subject to any court.”
While he also acknowledged Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition before his committee on sexual harassment and abuse of office against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, which was formally presented at plenary and referred to the committee, Senator Imasuem said the committee was unable to act on it due to a pending court case.
He explained: “Today at plenary, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted a petition, which was read to us. In that petition, she raised an allegation that is already in court. According to our rules, we do not hear a petition that is already before the court. The petition she submitted today is dead on arrival. It will not be entertained by this committee.”
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Senator Imasuem further cited Order 40 of the Senate Rules, which states that “no senator can present a petition signed by herself.”
“There are other senators from Kogi State who could have done that for her. That is a contravention of our rule book. So, we are not going to touch it,” he declared.
The committee hinted that it would submit its report to the entire Senate despite the absence of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“Let me put it on record that our colleague was properly notified. She was at plenary today and even contributed during the session. So, she is not here based on the advice of her lawyer. We will act on the petition based on observations made before us,” he stated.
Those who made submissions before the committee included the senator representing Ekiti South and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs; the senator representing Benue North and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Titus Zam; and the Sergeant-at-Arms, Mukhtar Usman.
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