Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, demanding the removal of a satirical video she posted online and a formal apology in national newspapers.
The legal action followed a controversial video shared by Akpoti-Uduaghan on April 27, where she mockingly “apologised” to Akpabio. In the video, she said she was “sorry for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect” and sarcastically expressed regret for not allowing the Senate President to “have his way” with her.
The post, which quickly went viral on social media, was widely seen as a jab at Akpabio amid ongoing tensions between the two lawmakers.
Akpabio’s legal counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), argued in a fresh application that the video was a direct violation of a restraining order issued by Justice Binta Nyako on April 4, 2025. The order had barred all parties involved in the dispute from making public statements about the case.
“The respondent’s conduct undermines the authority of the court,” Ogunwumiju stated in his filing, asking the court to compel Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete the video from all her social media platforms.
Additionally, Akpabio sought a court order that mandated Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish a written apology in at least two national newspapers and to swear an affidavit confirming that she has complied with the directive.
The dispute between both senators began after a disagreement over seating arrangements in the Senate chamber. This altercation escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the Senate President of sexual harassment and later filed a lawsuit to halt a planned investigation into her conduct by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen.
Despite challenging the Senate’s decision, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate. Her suspension came shortly after she made the explosive allegations against Akpabio.
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