A pressure group, Action Collective, has urged Nigerians to disregard claims that a court order restraining the Senate from investigating Senator Natasha Uduaghan has been vacated.
The group clarified that the Federal High Court in Abuja has not lifted its earlier order preventing the Senate from probing the senator over the alleged sexual harassment involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the Kogi-based group refuted the misleading reports and reaffirmed that the order remains in effect. It explained that the court did not grant the plaintiff’s request for a mandatory injunction invoking its disciplinary jurisdiction. Instead, it chose to first address the Senate’s motion, which was only filed on Monday, March 17, 2025.
Despite the restraining order, the Senate proceeded with its investigation, leading to Senator Uduaghan’s six-month suspension.
The group highlighted that during a recent court session, the plaintiff’s counsel, Michael Numa (SAN), strongly opposed the Senate’s application, emphasizing the contemptuous nature of its actions. Numa argued that the Senate had defied the court’s orders and, therefore, should not be granted any further reliefs by the same court.
Following a brief adjournment, the judge returned to clarify the scope of Order 4, which the Senate had misinterpreted as a restriction on its overall legislative functions.
The court noted that the National Assembly had continued its legislative duties unhindered and explained that Order 4 was only meant to enforce the restraining orders.
Due to the conflicting interpretations, the court decided to set aside only the consequential parts of Order 4.
The group stressed that contrary to false reports, the court did not nullify Orders 1, 2, or 3, which explicitly restrain the Senate’s Ethics Committee from proceeding with its investigation while the motion for an interlocutory injunction remains pending.
Additionally, the court did not revoke its directive for the defendants to respond within 72 hours or its instruction to maintain the status quo ante bellum.
The case has been adjourned to March 25, 2025, for the hearing of all pending applications, including the substantive matter.
Action Collective assured the public that justice would prevail and urged Nigerians to disregard misinformation regarding the case.
