By Kolawole Ojebisi
A Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from conducting a disciplinary proceeding against the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The restraining order was given by the presiding judge, Obiora Egwuatu, on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel.
Recall that on February 20, the Kogi Central lawmaker had an altercation with Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, , over seat allocation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan rejected her assigned seat, defying Akpabio’s order and repeatedly raising a point of order despite being overruled.
Following the development, Senator representing Ekiti Central, Yemi Adaramodu, raised a point of order during plenary, stressing that the incident had tarnished the Senate’s image.
He said attempts to clarify the Senate’s position have been unsuccessful as the people already have their opinion on the incident based on the Kogi lawmaker’s action.
Following the development, the Senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the ethics committee for disciplinary review.
The upper legislative chamber took the decision during lasr week Tuesday‘s plenary, following consideration and adoption of a report presented by Adaramdou.
Senators unanimously approved that the matter be referred to the committee after it was put to a voice vote by Akpabio.
The Senate President asked the committee to review the entire incident and report back to the Red Chamber.
