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Court Set To Hear Akpabio’s Contempt Case Against Natasha On May 13.
Photo: Staff Photographer

COURT SET TO HEAR AKPABIO’S CONTEMPT CASE AGAINST NATASHA ON MAY 13.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed to Tuesday, May 13, the scheduled hearing of a contempt case filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio against suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Justice Binta Nyako set the date after the second and third defendants submitted an application alleging the plaintiff had acted in contempt of the court.

The legal battle between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan began after a dispute over seating arrangements during the February 20 plenary session. The conflict escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan, during a television appearance, accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.

In response, she filed an application at the Federal High Court, seeking to restrain the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from probing her. The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, listed the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Senate President, and the committee chairman, Senator Nedamwen Imasuen, as respondents.

On March 4, the court granted an interim order barring the Senate from taking disciplinary action against her. However, the Senate proceeded to suspend her on March 6, citing gross misconduct, despite the case still being under judicial consideration.

Subsequently, on April 4, Justice Nyako directed all parties involved—including Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio, the Clerk, the Senate, and Imasuen—not to engage with the media or post about the case online while proceedings were ongoing.

This followed complaints from Akpabio’s legal team that Akpoti-Uduaghan continued to give interviews despite the court’s warning.

At Monday’s hearing, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Jibrin Okutekpa, confirmed that all necessary filings were complete and the case was ready for hearing.

Legal representatives for all four defendants—Charles Yoila, Paul Daudu, Ekoh Ejembi (SAN), and Valentine Offia—also confirmed compliance with the court’s previous orders.

However, Daudu pointed out that despite the media ban, Akpoti-Uduaghan had shared a satirical post on Facebook, which could be seen as a violation of the court’s directive.

“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, which I am entitled to respond to.

“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 contended that the post ridiculed the court and breached its directive, calling on the judge to hold her in contempt.

Akpabio’s lawyer, Ejembi, backed Daudu’s argument, asserting that the plaintiff’s Facebook post was a direct affront to the court’s authority.

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

In reply, the plaintiff’s counsel argued that the Facebook post pertained to the sexual harassment allegations and was unrelated to the current case before the court.

Okutekpa therefore asked the court to dismiss the defendants’ claims and focus on hearing the main suit.

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

He further requested the court to expedite the hearing, emphasizing that Akpoti-Uduaghan had already spent a total of 68 days away from the National Assembly. However, Justice Nyako stressed that the contempt matter must be resolved before proceeding with the main case.

“I cannot proceed with this matter until I conclude on the issue of contempt. If there is contempt, I have to hear and determine it first,” she said.

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

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

Justice Nyako warned the lawyers, cautioning that any further disregard for court orders by their clients could result in serious consequences.

“I have the power to 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 said.

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

She added, “You cannot allow your client to disrespect this court. If they are found in contempt, they will face punishment. If not, the court will proceed.”

"This represents a significant development in our ongoing coverage of current events."
— Editorial Board

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