Following a six-month suspension slammed on her by the Senate, the Kogi senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has filed a contempt charge against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Also named as contemnors in the Form 48 she filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja are the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct, Sen. Neda Imasuem.
Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that her suspension was a deliberate disregard for the court’s subsisting order issued on March 4, which applies to the defendants.
It was alleged that an enrolled order of the interim injunction that was issued by the court, was duly served on the defendants on March 5.
Based on her application, the court, in a notice of disobedience of court order signed by its Registrar pursuant to Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act 2004, urged the Defendants/Contemnors to take notice of their wilful disobedience of the order that was issued against them by Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
The court warned that Akpabio, Imasuem, and the Clerk of the National Assembly risk being held in contempt of court and potentially imprisoned if they fail to comply with the existing order.
According to the Form 48, a copy of which Persecondnews sighted on Thursday, the defendants/contemnors, “deliberately and contumaciously disregarded” a binding directive of the court and “proceeded with acts in flagrant defiance of the authority of the court.”
Persecondnews had reported on March 5, that Justice Obiora Egwuatu had on the strength of an ex-parte application that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan filed through her team of lawyers led by Mr. Michael Numa(SAN), restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct, from “proceeding with the purported investigation against the Plaintiff/Applicant for alleged misconduct sequel to the events that occurred at the plenary of the 2nd Defendant on the 20th day of February, 2025, pursuant to the referral by the 2nd Defendant on 25th February, 2025 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.”
The court further issued an order “directing the 1st -4th Defendants to come and show cause; why an order of interlocutory injunction should not be granted against them restraining them from proceeding with purported investigation against the Plaintiff for alleged misconduct without affecting her privileges as stipulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), the Senate Standing Order 2023 and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.”
Additionally, the court issued an order stating that any actions taken while the lawsuit is pending are null, void, and without any effect.
Justice Egwuatu granted Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan permission to serve court documents on the defendants through alternative methods, including handing them to the Clerk of the National Assembly, posting them on the National Assembly premises, or publishing them in two national newspapers.
Despite the interim injunction, the House Committee disregarded the court order and proceeded with the investigation.
They submitted their findings to the Senate, which then acted upon them and suspended the senator.
Responding to the suit, Akpabio challenged the jurisdiction of the court to meddle in the affairs of the Senate.
The court had adjourned the case until March 25 for further proceedings.
Persecondnews reported that the embattled senator had filed a N100.3 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio at a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, February 25, claiming that Akpabio tarnished her image with a defamatory Facebook post.
The post in question, titled “Is Local Content Committee of the Senate NATASHA’s BIRTHRIGHT?”, was published by Akpabio’s aide.
She claimed that the social media post misquoted her, suggesting she believed being a lawmaker meant wearing heavy makeup and transparent clothing to the Senate Chambers.
The suit marked CV/737/25 lists Akpabio and Mr. Mfon Patrick, Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President as defendants.
The lawmaker asked the court to order the defendants to pay her N100 billion in general damages, in addition to N300 million to cover the costs of litigation.
Also, the wife of the Senate President, Ekaette Akpabio, also filed multiple defamation lawsuits against Akpoti-Uduaghan on Friday, February 28.
The lawsuits claim that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio are defamatory and have caused damage to the Akpabio family’s reputation.
Ekaette’s suits, which include a fundamental rights suit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, aim to address what she describes as “scandalous and salacious” comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
She claimed that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s accusations have inflicted “emotional and psychological abuse” on her and her children, asking the court to issue a restraining order, preventing Akpoti-Uduaghan from making further “spiteful” statements that infringe on her fundamental human rights.
The suit also demands the sum of N250 billion in exemplary, punitive, aggravated, and general damages, in addition to any other orders the court deems necessary.
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