Natasha: Court Hears Akpabio’s Contempt Claims Today

The Federal High Court in Abuja will today hear the contempt claims against the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Justice Binta Nyako set the date after the second and third defendants informed the court that they had submitted an application detailing the plaintiff’s alleged contempt.

The legal dispute between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan stemmed from a disagreement over seating arrangements during a plenary session on 20th February.
Subsequently, Akpoti-Uduaghan made allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio during a television programme in which she was a guest.
Following this fallout, Akpoti-Uduaghan approached the Federal High Court seeking an order to restrain the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from investigating her.

In an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, she filed suit against the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Senate President, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Nedamwen Imasuen.

On 4th March, the court issued an order preventing the Senate from commencing disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan following her ex parte application.

However, on 6th March, the Senate suspended her, citing a report from the committee alleging gross misconduct, despite the matter being sub judice.

On Friday, 4th April 2025, Justice Nyako ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Imasuen to refrain from granting media interviews or making social media posts related to the case while it remained pending before the court.

This order came after Akpabio’s counsel claimed that Akpoti-Uduaghan had given press interviews, violating the court’s directive.

At the resumed sitting on Monday, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Jibrin Okutekpa, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for hearing and that all necessary documents had been filed.

Charles Yoila appeared for the first defendant; Paul Daudu represented the second defendant; Ekoh Ejembi (SAN) for the third defendant; and Valentine Offia for the fourth defendant.

All defence lawyers confirmed their compliance with the court’s previous orders and readiness for the hearing.

However, Daudu informed the court that, despite the order against social media posts, the plaintiff had published a satirical post on her Facebook page.

“This matter is coming up for definite hearing. The second defendant has filed its schedule of hearing. Ordinarily, we are ready to proceed, but a further affidavit was served on me just on Friday, to which I am entitled to respond.

“This court ordered that there should be no social media posts, but there was one. The plaintiff herself posted a satirical apology on her Facebook page,” Daudu stated.

He argued that the post mocked the court and violated its order, urging it to hold her in contempt.

Akpabio’s counsel, Ejembi, supported Daudu’s submission, asserting that the plaintiff’s Facebook post undermined the court’s authority.

“We allege that the Facebook post made by the plaintiff is a mockery of the court’s proceedings. We tender a report from the Punch newspaper showing she made the post despite the court’s order,” Ejembi said.

In response, the plaintiff’s counsel maintained that the Facebook post was related to the sexual harassment allegation and not the issue currently before the court.

Okutekpa urged the court to disregard the defendants’ submissions and proceed with hearing the substantive matter.

“Our counter-affidavit concerns only the issue before the court. The satirical post has no connection to it,” he argued.

He urged the court to expedite the hearing, noting that Akpoti-Uduaghan had spent 68 days outside the National Assembly.

Justice Nyako, however, insisted that the contempt issue must be addressed first.

“I cannot proceed with this matter until I have concluded on the issue of contempt. If there is contempt, I must hear and determine it beforehand,” she stated.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel raised a contempt allegation against all the defendants.

“My Lord, you have paused this trial due to a contempt allegation. We also have an issue of contempt against all the defendants,” he asserted.

Justice Nyako cautioned the lawyers that their clients’ continued disobeying court orders could lead to consequences.

“I can summon all your clients to appear in court. If counsel or litigants disobey the court, then the court has no business hearing them—that is my position,” she remarked.

Addressing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, she added, “If you have an application for contempt, bring it forward so the court can hear it.”