Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja has adjourned till Tuesday, May 13, for the definite hearing of the contempt claims made against the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Justice Nyako fixed the date following the submission of the second and third defendants, who stated that an application by them is before the court, drawing its attention to the alleged contempt of the plaintiff.
At the resumed hearing, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Jibrin Okutekpa, informed the court that the matter was slated for hearing as previously adjourned.
He added that the court had asked parties in the suit to file relevant documents, which they had done, and that they were ready to proceed.
Charles Yoila appeared for the first defendant, Paul Daudu (SAN) announced his appearance for the second defendant, Ekoh Ejembi (SAN), appeared for the third defendant, and Valentine Offia announced his appearance for the fourth defendant.
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All the defence lawyers informed the court that, in line with the court’s orders from the previous sitting, they had filed their schedule of hearing processes and were ready for the hearing.
However, the Senate’s counsel, Daudu, informed the court that, despite the court’s order to refrain from making social media posts related to the suit, the plaintiff had posted a satirical apology on her social media page.
“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 said.
He added that the plaintiff’s action was a mockery of the court and disobedience of its order, urging the court to hold her in contempt.
Akpabio’s counsel, Ejembi, aligned himself with the submission of the second defendant, stating that the plaintiff had disobeyed the court’s order.
“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.
The plaintiff’s counsel, however, insisted that the post on their client’s Facebook page was about sexual harassment and unrelated to the matter before Justice Nyako.
Okutekpa urged the court to dismiss the submission of the second and third defendants and proceed with the definite hearing of the substantive matter.
“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 emphasised the need for an expedited hearing, stating, “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, stated that she would not proceed with the case without first addressing the issue of contempt, stressing that she needed to determine whether the plaintiff was guilty of contempt of court.
“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,” Justice Nyako said.
The plaintiff’s counsel in return also raised an issue of contempt 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,” Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer stated.
Justice Nyako warned the lawyers against disobeying court orders, stating that if clients continued to disobey the court, she would refuse to hear their submissions.
“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 have no business hearing them. That is my take”.
Addressing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team she said “If you have an application for contempt then bring it up let the court hear it”.
Further admonishing the counsel against allowing their clients disobey the court she said, “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”.
Akapbio and Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal brawl originated from a sitting arrangement dispute during plenary on February 20.
Afterwards, Akpoti-Uduaghan in a TV program where she featured as a guest, made sexual harasament allegations against Akapbio.
Following the events that followed the disagreement between the two, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan approached the Federal High Court to seek an order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and public petitions from investigating her.
In an ex parte motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan 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 following her ex parte application.
The Senate, however, proceeded to suspend Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on March 6, following the committee’s report on her alleged gross misconduct—despite the case being sub judice.
On Friday, April 4, 2025, Justice Nyako issued an order restraining Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senate President Akpabio, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, Senator Imasuen, from granting further media interviews or making posts on social media while the suit remains pending before the court.
