The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 27, 2025, to deliver its judgment in the case filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan challenging her suspension from the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended for six months on March 8 over allegations of misconduct, including claims she disrupted Senate proceedings and went on live television to accuse Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—an allegation he has denied.
The senator argues that her suspension contravenes a court order previously issued by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, which barred any punitive action against her pending the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, May 13, Justice Binta Nyako—who is now handling the case after it was reassigned—also addressed two separate contempt applications: one filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan against Akpabio and the Senate, and the other by Akpabio against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), urged the court to dismiss all preliminary objections raised by the defence and to grant all the reliefs sought by his client. He maintained that her public statements about the Senate President were not in violation of the court’s media gag order, and insisted that the Senate had acted in contempt by proceeding with the suspension despite the injunction.
Counsel for the Clerk of the National Assembly, Charles Yoila, challenged the court’s jurisdiction and called for the suit to be dismissed entirely. Lawyers representing the Senate—Chikasolu Ojukwu (SAN) and J. Daudu (SAN)—backed the preliminary objections and argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan had breached the court’s directive on media restraint.
Counsel to Senate President Akpabio, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), also supported the objections and argued that the matter had become merely academic. In the alternative, he asked the court to dismiss the case and strike out Akpoti-Uduaghan’s online “satirical apology” to Akpabio.
The legal team representing the Senate Committee chairman aligned with the other defendants, calling for the case to be thrown out.
Justice Nyako stated that she would first rule on the contempt applications and preliminary objections before proceeding to the substantive judgment. If any of the objections are upheld, she noted, the suit would be terminated.
She then adjourned the matter to June 27, 2025, for final judgment.