The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until Tuesday, May 13, for the definite hearing of the contempt allegations brought by Senate President Godswill Akpabio against the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Justice Binta Nyako set the date after the second and third defendants informed the court that they had filed an application highlighting the plaintiff’s alleged contemptuous actions.
The legal conflict between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan stems from a disagreement over seating arrangements during a plenary session on February 20.
Subsequently, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment during a television appearance.
Following this, Akpoti-Uduaghan sought a court order to prevent the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from investigating her.
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In an ex parte motion, she sued 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 March 4, the court issued an order restraining the Senate from commencing disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
However, on March 6, the Senate suspended her, citing gross misconduct, despite the matter being before the court.
On April 4, Justice Nyako ordered all parties involved to refrain from media interviews or social media posts related to the case.
This followed claims by Akpabio’s counsel that Akpoti-Uduaghan had been giving press interviews in violation of the court’s directive.
At Monday’s resumed hearing, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team stated that all necessary documents had been filed. Defence lawyers confirmed compliance with previous court orders.
However, the court was informed that Akpoti-Uduaghan had published a satirical post on her Facebook page, which the defence argued mocked the court and violated its order, urging the court to hold her in contempt.
Akpabio’s counsel supported this, stating that the Facebook post undermined the court’s authority.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel argued that the post related to the sexual harassment allegation, not the matter before the court, and urged the court to proceed with the substantive hearing.
Justice Nyako insisted that the contempt issue must be addressed first, stating, “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.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel then raised a contempt allegation against all the defendants. Justice Nyako cautioned the lawyers against continued disobedience of court orders by their clients, warning of potential consequences and stating, “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 directed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s team to bring forward their contempt application.
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