The Federal High Court, sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has issued an interim injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), its staff, and agents from receiving, accepting, or acting on any petition containing false signatures purportedly from members of the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The court order also prohibits INEC from conducting any referendum based on such a petition to initiate the recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
This ruling followed an ex parte application for an interim injunction, which was supported by an affidavit of urgent necessity and other legal documents sworn by Anebe Jacob Ogirima, representing himself and four other plaintiffs—all registered voters and constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The application, presented by Smart Nwachimere, Esq., of West-Idahosa, SAN & Co., was granted on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Isa H. Dashen, in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/13/2025, stated:
“Upon this Motion Ex-parte dated March 19, 2025, and filed on March 20, 2025, in the Registry of this Honourable Court, praying the Court for the following reliefs:
An order of interim injunction restraining the Defendant (INEC), its staff, agents, privies, or assigns from receiving, accepting, or acting in any way whatsoever on any purported petition submitted by any person or persons containing fictitious signatures and names of members of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The order also restrains INEC from conducting any referendum based on such a petition for the purpose of initiating the recall process of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.”
