Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Drags Akpabio, Others to Court for Contempt Over Suspension

hi

In a dramatic legal showdown, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has filed contempt charges against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and several others over her controversial six-month suspension without pay. The charges, lodged in the Federal High Court in Abuja, accuse Akpabio, the Clerk of the National Assembly, and Senate Committee Chairman on Ethics, Senator Neda Imasuen, of defying court orders.

This action follows a significant ruling on March 4, where Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued a restraining order against the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, halting any investigation into Akpoti-Uduaghan’s alleged misconduct during the February 20, 2025 plenary session. Despite the court’s injunction, the Senate has continued with its actions, prompting the contempt charges.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate Michael Numa, argues that the Senate’s continued pursuit of the investigation violates her constitutional privileges and rights. The court has already made it clear that any actions taken during the legal proceedings are considered null and void, adding further fuel to the already heated dispute.

With the Senate seemingly in defiance of the judiciary, the situation is stirring controversy and raising questions about the separation of powers and the sanctity of court orders in the Nigerian legislature.