Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has set June 27, 2025, as the date to give judgment in a case filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the National Assembly.
The Kogi Central Senator is challenging her suspension by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions over claims of gross misconduct.
Akpoti-Uduaghan took legal action against the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, Senator Nedamwen Imasuen.
After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Nyako said she would deliver her judgment on June 27. On that same day, she also plans to give a ruling on contempt of court applications filed against both Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio.
The Senate’s lawyer, Paul Daudu (SAN), accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of disobeying a court order by posting a sarcastic apology on Facebook. Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team also claimed that Akpabio broke the same order by allowing comments in his favor by senior lawyers Olisah Agbakogba and Monday Ubani during media interviews.
The court order, issued on April 4 by Justice Nyako, had barred all parties involved—Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Imasuen—from giving media interviews or making social media posts about the case while it is still in court.
While presenting final arguments, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Michael Numan, asked the court to overturn the Senate Committee’s decision and argued that the contempt accusations against his client were not valid.
On the other side, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Senate President, and the Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee all argued that the court had no authority to hear the case. They asked the court to dismiss the suit filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The disagreement between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan began on February 20, 2025, during a Senate session, following a quarrel over seating arrangements. Later, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment during an interview on ARISE News.
She then asked the court to stop the Senate Committee from investigating her. However, the committee still recommended her suspension for six months.
Justice Obiorah Egwuatu was the original judge on the case but stepped down after complaints from Akpabio’s camp.
