By Prosper Mene
The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled Tuesday, May 13, 2025, for the definitive hearing of contempt allegations against suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as announced during Monday’s proceedings. The case, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, involves claims by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who accuses Akpoti-Uduaghan of violating a court order through a social media post.
The contempt charge stems from an April 4, 2025, court directive prohibiting all parties in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s ongoing lawsuit from making public statements about the case. Akpabio’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kehinde Ogunwumiju, alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan breached this order by posting a “satirical apology” on her Facebook page on April 27, 2025, which they claim mocked the Senate President and referenced the legal dispute.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a counter-affidavit, denying the allegations and asserting that her post did not violate any active court order. She claims the interim order cited by Akpabio was suspended on April 8, 2025, and argues that her post was a political satire protected under Section 39(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression. She further alleges that Akpabio’s motion is an attempt to intimidate her and suppress her rights.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has also lodged a contempt claim against Akpabio, the Senate, the Clerk of the National Assembly, and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct. She argues that her six-month suspension from the Senate on March 6, 2025, violated a March 4, 2025, court order by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, which restrained the Senate from proceeding with disciplinary actions against her pending the resolution of her lawsuit.
The legal battle traces back to a February 20, 2025, altercation in the Senate chamber over seating arrangements, where Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly defied Akpabio’s directives and disrupted plenary proceedings. This led to her referral to the Ethics Committee, which recommended her suspension despite the court’s restraining order. The senator’s lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, names the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Akpabio, and Imasuem as defendants.
Justice Nyako emphasized the priority of resolving the contempt issues, stating, “I cannot proceed with this matter until I conclude on the issue of contempt.” She warned that continued disobedience of court orders could lead to severe consequences, including summoning the parties to court. The judge also requested a copy of the Senate rules and cleared her schedule for the May 13 hearing to address both contempt applications.
While the court prepares for Tuesday’s hearing, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, her allegations against Akpabio, and the Senate’s adherence to judicial directives. The Citizenry awaits a resolution to this high-profile clash, which has sparked debates about free speech, judicial authority, and parliamentary conduct in Nigeria.
