Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday, May 13, appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja for the hearing of her suit challenging her six-month suspension from the Senate.
The suspension, handed down on March 6, followed her public allegation of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio—an accusation he has denied. In her suit, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan named the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuen (Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct) as defendants.
The case, initially assigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu, was reassigned to Justice Binta Nyako after Egwuatu recused himself. During Tuesday’s hearing, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, Jibrin Okutekpa (SAN), informed the court that all necessary documents had been submitted in compliance with earlier directives.
Lawyers for the Senate and the Senate President, Paul Daudu (SAN) and Ekoh Ejembi, also confirmed filing their responses but raised concerns over an alleged contempt of court by the plaintiff. They pointed to a satirical “letter of apology” posted by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on Facebook and published in national newspapers on March 27—despite a court order barring parties from making public statements on the case.
Responding, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s other lawyer, Michael Numan (SAN), acknowledged receiving the contempt motion but argued that the post had no direct link to the case and was unrelated to the court’s gag order.
Ejembi insisted that the post mocked the court’s authority and violated its directives. However, in a counter-affidavit, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that the letter was not in breach of any order and accused the Senate President of attempting to suppress her freedom of expression. She also emphasized that the letter addressed her allegations of harassment, not the legal dispute over her suspension.
Justice Nyako is expected to first rule on the contempt motions before proceeding to hear the substantive suit.