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Summary
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a contempt application against Senate President Godswill Akpabio for disregarding a court order that barred disciplinary action against her before her suspension.
The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has escalated as she has filed a contempt application against Senate President Godswill Akpabio for disregarding a court order.
Senator Natasha, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, named the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Senate President, and the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, Senator Neda Imasuen, as defendants and alleged contemnors.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court had earlier issued an ex-parte order on March 4, restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from taking disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan. The order, backed by a 25-paragraph affidavit from her legal team, stated that any action taken while the suit was pending would be “null, void, and of no effect whatsoever.”
Despite the court order, the Senate proceeded to suspend Senator Natasha for six months over reports of misconduct. It also ordered the sealing of her office and directed her to hand over all Senate property in her possession to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
The suspension stemmed from a report by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions following an incident between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio on February 20, 2025.
In response, the senator’s legal team has filed a Form 48 Notice of Disobedience of Court Order at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The application, filed under Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, 2004, warns of the consequences of disobeying the court’s directive.
