Mathew Amaechi
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to May 13 the high-stakes contempt proceedings between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, setting the stage for a legal reckoning over alleged violations of court orders tied to a bitter dispute involving sexual harassment claims and legislative retaliation.
The clash stems from a February 20 disagreement over Senate seating arrangements, which escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment during a televised interview. The Senate Ethics Committee later recommended her suspension for “gross misconduct,” a move she challenged in court. On March 4, Justice Binta Nyako barred the Senate from disciplinary action, but lawmakers defied the order, suspending Akpoti-Uduaghan two days later.
Justice Nyako issued a gag order on April 4, forbidding all parties—including Akpabio, Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Senate officials—from public comments on the case. However, tensions reignited Monday when defense lawyers accused the suspended senator of mocking the court through a satirical Facebook post.
Akpabio’s counsel, Paul Daudu, argued the post violated the gag order, while Ekoh Ejembi (SAN) called it a “mockery of judicial authority.” Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Jibrin Okutekpa, countered that the post addressed her sexual harassment allegations, not the case sub judice. Okutekpa urged the court to focus on the substantive matter, emphasizing her 68-day suspension from legislative duties.
However, Justice Nyako insisted contempt issues must be resolved first, warning, “If counsel or litigants disobey the court, the court has no business hearing them.”The May 13 hearing will prioritize contempt rulings, potentially determining whether Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension is lifted or if penalties apply.
As the legal battle intensifies, stakeholders await a precedent-setting decision that could reshape Senate-court dynamics. Justice Nyako’s courtroom remains a powder keg, with the credibility of both the judiciary and legislature hanging in the balance.
