Court Sets June 27 for Senator Natasha’s Suspension Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 27, 2025, to deliver its judgment in the case filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central. The suit challenges her suspension from the Senate following a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Justice Binta Nyako fixed the date after all parties presented their final written arguments during Tuesday’s proceedings.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan filed the case to stop the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from probing her after a disagreement with Akpabio over seating arrangements in the chamber during plenary on February 20.

The issue escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan later alleged on a TV programme that the Senate President sexually harassed her.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, lists the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Senate President, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Senator Nedamwen Imasuen, as the first to fourth defendants.

On March 4, the court granted a temporary order restraining the Senate from disciplining her. Despite this, on March 6, the Senate suspended her for six months, referencing a committee report accusing her of “gross misconduct” while the matter was still under judicial review.

During the April 4 hearing, Justice Nyako directed all parties to avoid media statements or social media commentary on the matter until the case was concluded.

At the most recent session, the legal team for the Senate and the Senate President alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan breached the court’s order by posting a message titled “Satirical Apology” on Facebook, which they argued was contemptuous.

They claimed the post suggested that her suspension was a result of rejecting the alleged sexual advances by the Senate President and cited a publication to support their claim.

However, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lead counsel, Michael Numa (SAN), rejected the accusation, asserting that the post had no relevance to the current court case. “We maintain that the satirical post is unrelated to this suit,” he said. “Our client has already spent 68 days outside the National Assembly. We urge the court to expedite hearing and dismiss the contempt application.”

Charles Yoiki, counsel for the first defendant, argued that the court did not have the jurisdiction to hear the case and requested it be struck out. “We filed a motion challenging the court’s jurisdiction and asking it to strike out the suit, especially the originating process,” Yoiki said.

Chikodiri Ojukwu (SAN), representing the second defendant, also asked the court to strike out the matter, stating that his arguments were already on record.

Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), appearing for the Senate President, echoed the jurisdictional challenge and said the suspension had already occurred, rendering the matter moot. He also requested the court to order the removal of the “Satirical Apology” post.

Valentine Offia, counsel for the fourth defendant, Senator Imasuen, also adopted his submitted legal documents.

Justice Nyako adjourned the matter to June 27 for judgment. She stated that the court would first address the contempt issue before considering the preliminary objections. The ruling on those objections, she added, would determine whether the main case would proceed.