ABUJA, Nigeria – Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, has filed a contempt charge against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Clerk of the National Assembly, and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, following her six-month suspension from the Senate.
The charge, filed under Form 48 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleges that the defendants violated a court order issued on 4 March, which restrained them from taking disciplinary action against her.
Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that her suspension directly contravenes the court’s interim injunction, which barred the Senate Committee from proceeding with an investigation into her alleged misconduct during the 20 February plenary session.
The court, through a notice signed by its Registrar under Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act 2004, warned the defendants of the consequences of defying its directive, including potential imprisonment.
According to Form 48, the defendants “deliberately and contumaciously disregarded” the court’s order and acted in defiance of its authority.
It was further alleged that an enrolled copy of the interim injunction was served on them on 5 March.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu had issued the injunction following an ex-parte application by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Michael Numa.
The order restrained the Senate Committee from taking any disciplinary action against the senator pending a full hearing of the case.
The court also directed the defendants to justify why an interlocutory injunction should not be issued to prevent any action that would infringe upon Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legislative privileges under the Nigerian Constitution, Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
Justice Egwuatu declared that any action taken while the case remains pending would be null and void.
Additionally, the court permitted Akpoti-Uduaghan to serve court documents on the defendants through substituted means, such as delivering them to the Clerk of the National Assembly, pasting them at the National Assembly premises, or publishing them in two national newspapers.
In response, Senate President Akpabio challenged the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that it has no authority to interfere in Senate matters.
The case has sparked a legal and political showdown, with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension raising questions about the balance of power between the judiciary and the legislature.
The senator’s legal team maintains that her suspension violates her constitutional rights and undermines the principles of due process.
