Court Postpones Hearing on Senate President Akpabio’s Contempt Allegations Against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to May 13

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the hearing of contempt claims by Senate President Godswill Akpabio against suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to Tuesday, May 13.

Justice Binta Nyako set the date after defendants informed the court of an application drawing attention to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s alleged contempt.

The dispute began in February after a seating disagreement in plenary and worsened when Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment during a TV appearance.

Akpoti-Uduaghan filed an ex parte suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025) against the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Akpabio, and Senator Nedamwen Imasuen to stop the Senate Ethics Committee from investigating her.

Although the court ordered on March 4 that the Senate halt disciplinary proceedings, the Senate suspended her on March 6, citing gross misconduct.

On April 4, Justice Nyako barred all parties from media interviews or social media posts concerning the case. However, defendants alleged Akpoti-Uduaghan violated this by posting a satirical apology on Facebook, which they say mocks the court and constitutes contempt.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel argued the post was about the sexual harassment claim, unrelated to the court’s matter, and asked the court to proceed with the case.

Justice Nyako emphasized that the contempt issue must be resolved first and warned that disobedience to court orders would have consequences, including possible summons for the parties involved.

The court will hear the contempt allegations on May 13 before proceeding with the main dispute.