By Ayomide Otitoju
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed June 27, 2025, for judgment in the suit filed by suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, challenging her suspension from the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is contesting the legality of her suspension by the Senate, which she claims was orchestrated on allegations of misconduct and marred by bias. In her suit, she joined the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct, as co-defendants.
The matter, originally before Justice Obiorah Egwuatu, was reassigned to Justice Nyako following Egwuatu’s withdrawal from the case.
At Monday’s hearing, her counsel, Jibrin Okutekpa (SAN), informed the court that all necessary documents had been filed in accordance with earlier directives. Counsel representing the Senate and the Senate President, Paul Daudu (SAN) and Ekwo Ejembi, respectively, also confirmed the submission of their documents. However, both senior advocates drew the court’s attention to a motion accusing Akpoti-Uduaghan of violating a subsisting court order.
They alleged that the senator flouted the court’s directive on March 27 by publishing a satirical letter of apology addressed to the Senate President on her Facebook page, which was also circulated in national dailies. The lawyers argued that the publication amounted to contempt of court.
In response, Michael Numan (SAN), appearing for the plaintiff, acknowledged the motion but also reminded the court that a counter-motion alleging disobedience by the defendants had earlier been filed. He dismissed the claims against his client, stating that the controversial post had no direct link to the senator and did not constitute a breach of any court order.
Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a counter-affidavit, maintained that the satirical letter in question was an exercise of her right to free speech and did not contravene the court’s instructions, which barred parties from engaging the media on the ongoing litigation. She argued that while her letter addressed separate allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President, the matter before the court solely concerns her suspension.
The court is now set to deliver its ruling on the matter on June 27, with legal observers closely watching what could become a landmark case in legislative accountability and judicial oversight.
