The Federal High Court, located in Lokoja, Kogi State, has given a verdict stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or acting on petitions to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The senator representing Kogi Central was suspended from the senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” after a seating arrangement saga with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Natasha had also accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.
The court approved the interim injunction on Thursday after an ex-parte application for an interim injunction, supported by an “affidavit of extreme urgency”.
Videos showing constituents signing documents as part of the recall process surfaced online on Wednesday.
The court application was filed by Anebe Jacob Ogirima and four other registered voters from Kogi central, who were represented by Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co, TheCable reports.
The court order stops the apex electoral body and its representatives from accepting or acting on petitions linked to the recall, which the applicants claim contain fictitious signatures.
Also, the order prevents INEC from conducting a referendum on the matter until the substantive case is resolved.
Part of the order read, “That an interim injunction is granted restraining the defendant, staff, agents, privies or assigns from receiving, accepting or acting in any way whatsoever on any purported petitions submitted to the defendant by any person or persons whatsoever, containing fictitious signatures and names of purported members of the said district and conducting any referendum to initiate a recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as senator pending the determination of the motion.
The order of the court and the motion on notice are to be served on the INEC as the defendant.
New Daily Prime had reported earlier that the Federal High Court in Abuja has reversed its earlier order nullifying the Senate’s suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Reversing the court’s March 4 order, which had declared any action taken against Natasha during the suit’s pendency null and void, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled in favour of the Senate’s application.
Justice Egwuatu initially granted Natasha’s five reliefs, including Order Number Four, rendering any Senate actions against her ineffective.
