Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has requested a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a motion seeking to compel her to remove a satirical apology she posted on social media.
Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted a counter-affidavit in response to a motion filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who claimed that her Facebook post violated a court order related to her challenge against her suspension from the Senate.
On April 4, Justice Binta Nyako, who took over the case, issued an order prohibiting both parties from making public statements about the case, particularly regarding sexual harassment allegations.
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The judge’s order included a ban on press interviews, social media posts, and television analysis concerning the case while it was sub judice.
Despite this order, on April 27, Akpoti-Uduaghan posted a satirical apology on her Facebook page, mocking the Senate President’s leadership style and alleged misconduct.
In response, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, filed a motion on May 5, arguing that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s post violated the court’s order.
They requested the court to mandate her to delete the post from all her social media platforms and to publish a written apology in two national newspapers, along with an affidavit confirming compliance.
However, in her counter-affidavit, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Jubril Okutepa, argued that her post did not violate the court order and was instead a form of protest against her alleged unfair suspension from the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team also alleged that Akpabio’s motion was an attempt to harass and intimidate her for exercising her right to free expression.
“That the instant motion is borne of malice and intended to harass, intimidate, and scandalise me for exercising my constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing and to free expression.”
The case challenging Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension has been adjourned to May 12 for a hearing, during which the court is expected to address Akpabio’s motion and Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counter-affidavit.
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