Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 27 for judgment in the suit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is challenging her suspension from the Senate.

The legal battle, which resumed on Tuesday, centered around the hearing of all pending motions, including those related to alleged contempt of court and the main suit itself.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, had taken legal action against the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct.

Tuesday’s session was marked by procedural debates over the appropriate steps to be followed in handling the case.

Counsel to the third defendant, Kehinde Ogunwunniju, called on all parties to formally withdraw any court processes they no longer intended to rely on, noting it was important to avoid procedural confusion.

However, Justice Nyako observed that such a “housekeeping” application should have been made earlier in the proceedings.

When the issue of contempt came up, counsel for the plaintiff urged the court to first address the two contempt applications filed against the defendants.

In response, the judge remarked that since parties failed to consolidate their filings, the court would proceed to adopt all filed processes and determine their relevance.

She explained: “Since the parties had failed to harmonise the processes, all filed processes would be adopted, and the court would sift out irrelevant ones.”

The first defendant then adopted their processes challenging the court’s jurisdiction and opposing the issuance of interlocutory injunctions.

They called on the court to dismiss the originating motions.

In a similar vein, the second defendant’s counsel, Chickoson Ojukwu, adopted all their processes and urged the court to strike out the suit on the grounds of lacking jurisdiction.

Counsel for the third and fourth defendants also adopted their filings and asked the court to reject the claims made by the plaintiff.

After hearing all sides, Justice Nyako said, “I would first consider the contempt issues and preliminary objections. If they succeed, the matter stops there; if not, we proceed.”

The case was consequently adjourned to June 27 for judgment.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate on March 5, 2025, just one day after Justice Obiora Egwuatu had issued an order restraining the Senate from taking any disciplinary action against her until her suit was resolved.

Justice Egwuatu later recused himself from the case, citing allegations of bias, leading to the reassignment of the case to Justice Nyako.

The Federal High Court in Abuja will today resume hearing in the suit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) against the Senate, focusing on contempt proceedings and other related applications.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, lists the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct, Senator Neda Imasuen, as defendants.

Yesterday, the case came up before Justice Binta Nyako following the withdrawal of Justice Obiorah Egwuatu.

Representing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, Jibrin Okutekpa (SAN) informed the court that the plaintiff had complied with previous directives and submitted all necessary documents for the proceedings.

Counsel to the Senate, Paul Daudu (SAN), and counsel to the Senate President, Ekwo Ejembi Ekwo, both confirmed filing their own documents.

However, they also alerted the court to a pending motion alleging disobedience of a court order by the plaintiff.

They claimed that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan violated court orders on March 27, 2025, by publishing a satirical letter of apology addressed to the Senate President on her Facebook page and in national newspapers.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Michael Numan (SAN), acknowledged receipt of the motion but insisted that “the statement credited to the plaintiff had no connection with her.” He also reminded the court that the plaintiff had earlier filed a motion accusing the defendants of contempt.

Meanwhile, Senate President Akpabio denied claims that senior lawyers Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Monday Ubani (SAN) are part of his legal team in the case.

“They are not involved in this defence,” he stated through his counsel.

Okutekpa, speaking for the plaintiff, also accused the respondents of disobeying court orders and urged the judge to give priority to the contempt proceedings initiated against them.

Justice Nyako, agreeing that the contempt issue is central to the matter, ruled that all applications, including those on alleged disobedience of court orders, will be heard together today, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at noon.

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has established an Appeal Committee to address complaints that emerged from the party’s primary elections held on Saturday.

This was made known in a statement issued on Monday by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Seye Oladejo.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the APC conducted chairmanship and councillorship primaries across Lagos on Saturday in preparation for the upcoming Local Government elections scheduled for July 12.

Out of the 57 local government areas in the state, chairmanship candidates emerged in 55, leaving two unresolved.

However, the outcome of some of the primaries has been met with opposition from several aspirants, who alleged imposition of candidates.

This led to protests in certain council areas by disgruntled party members.

Oladejo announced that the newly constituted appeal committee would be chaired by Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, who currently serves as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State.

Chief Abiodun Olufowobi was named as the committee’s secretary.

Other members of the panel include Mr. Jokotola Pelumi, a former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly; Mr. Lanre Ogunyemi, a former lawmaker and current State Secretary of the APC; and Chief Chukwudi Adiukwu.

“We hereby advise discontented aspirants to submit their appeals to the committee not later than 12p.m. on Tuesday 13th May, 2025,” the APC spokesman stated.

Hon. Zubairu Hamza Masu, a member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing the Sumaila Constituency, has officially defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Masu announced his resignation from the NNPP in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ismail Falgore.

The letter was read aloud during the House’s plenary session on Monday.

In the letter, the lawmaker cited persistent internal crises within the NNPP as the primary reason for his decision.

These issues, he explained, include factional disputes and unresolved litigations that have plagued the party.

He highlighted the existence of conflicting leadership claims at both the state and national levels.

According to him, the party in Kano is torn between the leadership of Dr. Suleiman Hashim Dungurawa and Senator Mas’ud El-Jibrin Doguwa, while at the national level, a similar struggle exists between Dr. Ahmed Ajuji and Dr. Agbo Major.

Masu’s resignation is effective from May 12, 2025.

In his statement, he expressed his commitment to his new political platform.

He pledged “full allegiance to the APC leadership at all levels.”

It will be recalled that Hon. Masu was recently among notable NNPP figures who were received into the APC by the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), cautioning the opposition party against zoning its 2027 presidential ticket to the North, a move he believes could lead to yet another electoral defeat.

Speaking during a media chat on Monday, Wike said it was time for the PDP to avoid repeating what he called the “mistake of 2023.”

“Why not, as a party, come out openly and say our presidential candidate will come out from the south?” he queried.

Wike faulted what he described as the party’s reluctance to adopt a clear and equitable approach to zoning.

“You don’t want to do that. You want to play the same game you played in 2023. It will backfire,” he warned.

In a further rebuke of PDP’s internal strategies, Wike said, “This smartness won’t help you. Come out now and let everybody know where you are heading. You can’t send the presidency to the north. I told them. Selfishness can kill a system.”

He added that if President Bola Tinubu wins a second term in 2027 under the APC, the ruling party will likely return the presidency to the North in 2031.

According to him, the PDP might be tempted to follow suit, a prospect he strongly rejected.

“For example, if Mr President runs and wins in 2027, by 2031 APC will send their presidential ticket to the north. PDP will do what then? You will come back then and say since APC is sending it to the north, let’s give the north our presidential ticket. What kind of smartness is that?” he asked.

Though he didn’t mention any names directly, Wike’s comments seem to target Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, who has insisted he will keep contesting.

Atiku had declared in May 2024 that he would not stop running for Nigeria’s top office as long as he remains alive and healthy.

He defended his persistence by invoking the story of Abraham Lincoln: “Even the former President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, contested seven times before his eventual victory,” Atiku said.