Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 27, 2025, to deliver judgment in the suit 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 alleged gross misconduct.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suit names the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Nedamwen Imasuen, as defendants.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Nyako fixed June 27 for judgment. She also announced that she would deliver a ruling on the contempt applications brought against Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio on the same day.
Counsel for the Senate, Paul Daudu, SAN, accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of violating a court order by posting a satirical apology on her Facebook page. Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team alleged that Akpabio breached the same order through public comments made by senior lawyers Olisah Agbakogba and Monday Ubani during media appearances.
Justice Nyako’s order, issued on April 4, had restrained Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Imasuen from granting media interviews or making social media posts about the case while it remained pending.
While adopting his closing arguments, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, Michael Numan, urged the court to overturn the Senate Committee’s decision, countering the allegations of contempt.
In contrast, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Senate President, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions challenged the court’s jurisdiction and requested the dismissal of the case.
The dispute traces back to a disagreement between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan over seating arrangements during a Senate plenary on February 20, 2025. Akpoti-Uduaghan later accused Akpabio of sexual harassment during an interview on ARISE News.
She subsequently filed a suit at the Federal High Court to prevent the Senate Committee from investigating her—a move that resulted in her six-month suspension, based on the Committee’s recommendation.
Initially assigned to Justice Obiorah Egwuatu, the case was reassigned after allegations from Akpabio’s camp led to his withdrawal.
