Justice Isa Dashen of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, on Friday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving petitions for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The judge gave the order after listening to the application moved by Mr. Smart Nwachimere of West-Idahosa (SAN) & Co, counsel for the applicants.
The applicants – Anebe Jacob Ogirma, John Adebosi, Musa Adeiza, Ahmed Usman, and Maleek Yahaya, had sued INEC over the alleged move to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan.
They urged court to restrain INEC from receiving any petition by purported members of Kogi Central Senatorial District for the recall of the lawmaker pending the determination of the Motion on Notice to the same effect.
The ex-parte application was supported by Affidavit of Extreme urgency together with other court processes sworn to by Ogirima for himself and four others who are registered voters and constituents of Kogi central senatorial district of Kogi State.
Justice Dashen granted the application and ordered that the court order and motion on notice be served on INEC.
He fixed May 6 for report of service and further mention of the case.
There were reports that some constituents of Kogi central senatorial district had started collecting signatures of registered voters in the district for the Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly.
The Senate on March 8 suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months after accusation of sexual assault against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.