Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the definite hearing of the contempt claims against suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan until Tuesday, May 13.
The suit was filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The new date followed a submission from the second and third defendants, drawing the court’s attention to an application highlighting alleged contempt by the plaintiff.
During the resumed proceedings, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lead counsel, Jibrin Okutekpa, informed the court that all necessary documents had been filed as earlier directed and that the team was ready to move forward.
Representatives for the four defendants—Charles Yoila, Paul Daudu (SAN), Ekoh Ejembi (SAN), and Valentine Offia—confirmed they had complied with the court’s directive to file their hearing processes.
However, Daudu, representing the Senate, claimed that despite an order prohibiting social media posts related to the case, the plaintiff published a post titled Satirical Apology on her Facebook page. He described it as a direct violation of the court’s order and urged the court to find her in contempt.
Ejembi, appearing for Akpabio, supported Daudu’s position and submitted a newspaper report from Punch, asserting that the post mocked the court proceedings.
In response, Okutekpa argued that the Facebook post was unrelated to the current legal matter and concerned allegations of sexual harassment, not the contempt case. He called for the court to proceed with the substantive hearing, citing that his client had already missed 68 cumulative days in the National Assembly.
Justice Nyako, however, maintained that the contempt issue must be addressed first before any progress on the main case could be made. She reiterated the seriousness of obeying court orders and warned that any further disregard could lead to clients being summoned and their submissions ignored.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel countered with a contempt allegation of their own against all the defendants, urging the court to acknowledge it as well.
Justice Nyako advised that if such an application existed, it should be presented properly. She further stressed that disrespect for the court, whether by counsel or their clients, would not be tolerated, and any party found in contempt would face appropriate consequences.
The legal tussle stems from a February 20 plenary seating arrangement dispute, which later escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan, during a televised interview, accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.
She subsequently approached the court to stop the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from probing her. In an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, she sued multiple Senate officials, including the Clerk and Committee Chairman Senator Nedamwen Imasuen.
Despite a court order on March 4 restraining the Senate from acting on the matter, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6 following a committee report citing gross misconduct.
On April 4, Justice Nyako reinforced the restriction, barring all involved parties from engaging with the media or posting on social media until the case is resolved, following fresh complaints from Akpabio’s legal team about further public comments by the plaintiff.
What you should know
The Federal High Court will decide on May 13 whether Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is guilty of contempt for allegedly violating a court order barring media comments.
The ruling is key to determining if the court will proceed with her main case challenging her suspension from the Senate.
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