Judge Obiora Egwatu has scheduled March 25 as the day he'll hear Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan's lawsuit against the Nigerian Senate. The Kogi Central lawmaker earlier asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to block the Senate Ethics Committee from investigating her actions. The judge gave her this protective order, but Senate members ignored it completely last Thursday. They went ahead anyway and kicked Natasha out for six months after reviewing what the committee found.
During Monday's court meeting, lawyers representing the first, second, and third defendants claimed they never received any legal papers from Natasha. Her lawyer, Michael Numa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, disagreed completely. He told the judge everyone had been properly notified and showed proof through official delivery documents. Judge Egwatu looked at these papers carefully and agreed that, yes, everyone had actually received their legal notices despite what they claimed.
The Senate President's attorney, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, then asked the judge for more time. He wanted everyone to organize their paperwork better before moving forward. Other lawyers agreed with this plan because they thought it would speed things up at the next meeting. Judge Egwatu accepted this idea and pushed everything to March 25, 2025. He ordered that all necessary documents must reach everyone before that date arrived.
Victor Nwaebonyi, the Senate's Deputy Chief Whip, spoke afterward about what happened in court. He emphasized how crucial proper notification remains in any legal battle. He explained that parties can only study cases and respond correctly when they receive official papers properly. Nwaebonyi admitted that courts rarely step into Senate business this way. He added that Senate members simply answered the court's call because they respect the law as a responsible government body.
During Monday's court meeting, lawyers representing the first, second, and third defendants claimed they never received any legal papers from Natasha. Her lawyer, Michael Numa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, disagreed completely. He told the judge everyone had been properly notified and showed proof through official delivery documents. Judge Egwatu looked at these papers carefully and agreed that, yes, everyone had actually received their legal notices despite what they claimed.
The Senate President's attorney, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, then asked the judge for more time. He wanted everyone to organize their paperwork better before moving forward. Other lawyers agreed with this plan because they thought it would speed things up at the next meeting. Judge Egwatu accepted this idea and pushed everything to March 25, 2025. He ordered that all necessary documents must reach everyone before that date arrived.
Victor Nwaebonyi, the Senate's Deputy Chief Whip, spoke afterward about what happened in court. He emphasized how crucial proper notification remains in any legal battle. He explained that parties can only study cases and respond correctly when they receive official papers properly. Nwaebonyi admitted that courts rarely step into Senate business this way. He added that Senate members simply answered the court's call because they respect the law as a responsible government body.
