By Charles Pemu 
Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken legal action against the Nigerian Senate and its President, Godswill Akpabio, challenging her six-month suspension.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed June 27 for judgment after all parties adopted their final written addresses.
Akpoti-Uduaghan argues that her suspension violated a prior court order and infringed on her constitutional rights. Her suit names the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, as defendants.
The Senate, however, claims the matter is an internal affair and outside the court’s jurisdiction. It also accused the senator of violating a court directive that barred public commentary on the case.
The conflict stems from a February 20 plenary session where Akpoti-Uduaghan clashed with Akpabio over a change to her seating arrangement. She later alleged in a TV interview that the suspension followed her rejection of personal advances from Akpabio—an allegation he denies.
Justice Nyako replaced Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who stepped down from the case after being accused of bias by the Senate President.
The court is also considering contempt allegations and procedural objections raised by both sides.