Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Tuesday, May 13, for the definite hearing of contempt proceedings brought by Senate President Godswill Akpabio against suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The court set the date following submissions by the second and third defendants, who drew attention to an alleged violation of a court order by the plaintiff.
During the resumed proceedings, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lead counsel, Jibrin Okutekpa, SAN, informed the court that the matter was due for hearing and that all parties had complied with directives to file necessary documents.
Representatives for the defendants also announced their appearances: Charles Yoila for the first defendant, Paul Daudu, SAN, for the second defendant, Ekoh Ejembi, SAN, for the third, and Valentine Offia for the fourth.
Counsel to the Senate, Daudu, noted that a further affidavit had been served on him shortly before the hearing and cited a violation of a standing court order barring public commentary on the case.
“This matter is coming up for definite hearing. The second defendant has filed its schedule of hearing. Ordinarily, we are ready to proceed with the hearing; however, 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. There was a satirical post by none other than the plaintiff herself, titled Satirical Apology, on her Facebook page,” Daudu told the court.
Aligning with Daudu’s submission, Akpabio’s counsel, Ejembi, also alleged contempt.
“We are alleging that the Facebook post made by the plaintiff herself is a mockery of the proceedings of this court. We tender the Punch newspaper report, which stated that the plaintiff made the satirical apology post despite the court’s orders,” Ejembi said.
Okutekpa, however, countered that the post in question did not pertain to the ongoing case.
“My contention is to invite my Lord to see that the alleged publication by my client has no nexus to this case whatsoever.
“Our counter-affidavit is not about sexual harassment; it is about the matter before this court. How does the satirical post relate to the matter before this court?” he argued.
He further urged the court to expedite the hearing: “Our client has spent 68 days cumulatively out of the National Assembly, and we ask for expeditious hearing without wasting more time.”
Justice Nyako, however, emphasized the need to address the contempt issue before proceeding with the substantive case.
“I cannot proceed with this matter until I conclude on the issue of contempt. If there is contempt, I have to hear it first and determine the matter,” she stated.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team also raised a contempt claim against all the defendants.
“My Lord, you have paused this trial for a contempt of this court. My Lord, we also have an issue of contempt of court that all the defendants in this case are guilty of,” the plaintiff’s counsel said.
Justice Nyako cautioned all parties, stating, “I have the power to summon all of your clients to this court and all of them will have to be here so they need to calm down.
“If counsel or litigant disobeys the court, then the court has no business hearing them. That is my take.
“You cannot allow your client to disrespect this court. If they are found in contempt then they serve the punishment; if not, the court moves on.”
The dispute between Senator Akpabio and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan stems from a sitting arrangement disagreement during plenary on February 20.
Subsequently, Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared on a television program where she made allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.
In response to subsequent disciplinary proceedings initiated by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a suit at the Federal High Court seeking to restrain the committee from investigating her.
The ex parte motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, named the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Senate President, and the Chairman of the committee, Senator Nedamwen Imasuen, as defendants.
On March 4, the court issued an interim order halting disciplinary action against the plaintiff. Nevertheless, the Senate suspended her on March 6 for alleged gross misconduct, despite the pending litigation.
On April 4, the court issued a further order restraining all involved parties, including the Senate President and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, from making media appearances or social media comments on the matter while the case is ongoing.
Justice Nyako is expected to hear the contempt applications and determine whether the parties involved have violated any court orders before continuing with the main proceedings.
