… there is 'there is separation of powers'
The Senate on Wednesday rejected an registration order of the Federal Superior Court, which ordered him to stop his investigation into a petition against the senator that represents Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Despite the court ruling, the Senate Ethics Committee, the Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, led by Senator Neda Imasuem, proceeded with deliberations on the matter.
Nigerian tribe The checks revealed that Judge Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal Superior Court, Abuja, had granted an intermediate mandate order that restricted the Senate and its committee of ethics, privileges and code of conduct to proceed with the alleged investigation against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The court also granted “an order that declares that any action taken during the processing of this lawsuit is null, null and without any effect.”
The case was postponed to March 10, 2025.
Joined As Defandants in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, In Which The Kogi Central LawMaker is the Applia, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND PUBL PETIONS, SENATOR NEDA IMASUEM, LISCED AS GRAC, SECOND, THIRD, AND FOUR CONCLUSIVE, RESPARTILY.
However, the president of the Ethics Committee, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions of the Senate, Senator Imasuem, who recognized the registration order, said the committee would not differ to the board, insisting that no court has the power to interfere with the internal affairs of Parliament.
He said: “There is a separation of powers. As parliamentarians, we know what our rules say. What we do here is not subject to any court. The problem we have before us is misconduct on the Senate's floor. He is not subject to any court. “
Although he also recognized the request of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan before his committee of sexual harassment and abuse against the president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who formally presented himself in plenary and referred to the committee, the Imasuem senator said that the committee could not act accordingly due to a case of the slope court.
He explained: “Today in Plenary, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan presented a request, which was read to us. In that request, he raised an accusation that is already in court. According to our rules, we do not listen to a request that is already before the court. The request he presented today is dead upon arrival. He will not be entertained by this committee. “
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Senator Imasuem also cited order 40 of the rules of the Senate, which states that “no senator can present a petition signed by itself.”
“There are other senators of the Kogi state that could have done it for it. That is a contravention of our rules book. So, we are not going to touch it, ”he said.
The committee hinted that he would present his report to the entire Senate despite the absence of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“Allow me to register that our colleague was correctly notified. Today he was in Plenary and even contributed during the session. So, she is not here based on the advice of her lawyer. We will act on the petition based on observations made before us, ”he said.
Those who made presentations before the committee included the senator who represented Ekiti South and president of the Senate Media and Public Affairs Committee; the senator representing Benue North and president of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Titus Zam; and the sergeant of arms, Mukhtar Usman.
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