Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a contempt charge against Senate President Godswill Akpabio following her six-month suspension by the Senate. The charge, submitted at the Federal High Court in Abuja, also names the Clerk of the National Assembly and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct.
Akpoti-Uduaghan contends that her suspension violates a court order issued on March 4, which explicitly barred the Senate from taking such action against her. In response, the court issued a notice under Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act 2004, warning that defying its directive could lead to imprisonment for the defendants.
According to the court document, the defendants "deliberately and contumaciously disregarded" the ruling, despite being formally served an enrolled copy of the interim injunction on March 5. The injunction had been issued by Justice Obiora Egwuatu following an ex-parte application by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Michael Numa. It restrained the Senate Committee from proceeding with its investigation into allegations of misconduct against the senator regarding her conduct during the February 20 plenary session.
The court further ordered the defendants to explain why an interlocutory injunction should not be issued to prevent any disciplinary action that could infringe on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legislative privileges. It also declared that any decision taken against her while the case remains unresolved would be null and void.
Justice Egwuatu permitted Akpoti-Uduaghan to serve court documents through alternative means, including delivering them to the Clerk of the National Assembly, pasting them at the National Assembly premises, or publishing them in two national newspapers.
In response, Senate President Akpabio has challenged the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that it lacks authority over internal legislative matters. The case is set for further hearing on March 25.
