- Safiu Kehinde
A Lokoja Federal High Court sitting in Kogi state has barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving petitions for the purpose of initiating a recall process against suspended lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The court on Thursday granted an interim injunction restraining INEC from receiving the petition.
It also restricted INEC staff, agents, privies, or assigns from accepting or acting on any petition containing fictitious signatures of purported members of the Kogi Central Senatorial District and from conducting any referendum pending the determination of the motion on notice to the same effect.
NPO Reported that some suspected stakeholders at the Kogi Central Senatorial District, where Natasha represents, had on Tuesday initiated the recall process of the lawmakers.
It would later be discovered the large number of electorates spotted at the venue of the recall process, which started at Okia Local Government Area, were deceived to get their signature.
They were mobilized under the guise of an empowerment programme.
While most of them left the centre after realizing that they deceived, the push to recall the suspended senator intensified on Thursday with more groups in Kogi Central throwing their weight behind the process.
A group of Ebira indigenes refuted the claim that the recall process was being sponsored and influenced with money by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s political opponents.
They held that Natasha need to come home and learn the art of politics.
However, as contained in the order paper made available to newsmen on Friday morning, the Federal High Court granted the application following an ex-parte application for an interim injunction supported by an affidavit of extreme urgency.
The court processes were sworn to by Anebe Jacob Ogirima for himself and four others who are registered voters and constituents of the Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State.
However, the application was moved by Smart Nwachimere, Esq., of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co., but the case has been adjourned to May 6, 2025, for a report of service and further mention.
Reacting to the development, a pressure group, Action Collective, commended the judiciary for granting the order.
The group’s coordinator, Dr. Onimisi Ibrahim, said in his reaction that the order would further expose the impunity of some sponsored individuals behind the failed plot to recall Senator Natasha.