Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of attempting to silence her and obstruct judicial proceedings through a recent court application targeting her satirical Facebook letter.
In a counter-affidavit filed on May 8, Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that her viral satirical letter, which referenced her allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, did not violate any court order, as it did not concern the subject of her ongoing legal battle — her alleged unlawful suspension from the Senate.
The embattled senator had earlier approached the court to restrain the Senate from taking disciplinary action against her, a request granted by Justice Emeka Nwite on March 4. Despite the ruling, the Senate suspended her for six months the following day. Justice Nwite later recused himself from the case over accusations of bias by Akpabio, and the matter was reassigned to Justice Binta Nyako.
At a hearing on April 4, Justice Nyako barred both parties and their legal representatives from making public comments related to the case and fixed May 12 for further proceedings.
However, on May 5, Akpabio, who is the third defendant in the suit, filed an application asking the court to order Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete her satirical post and issue a public apology for allegedly violating the media gag order.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed it was Akpabio’s legal team—Senior Advocates Olisa Agbakoba and Monday Ubani—who had actually breached the court’s directives. She described Akpabio’s application as a deliberate strategy to delay proceedings and frustrate her return to the Senate.
In a 28-paragraph affidavit, she said the move was “an attempt to ambush me and foist an adjournment on the court’s scheduled proceedings of May 12, 2025,” adding that it was part of a calculated effort to render her suspension effective without judicial determination.
She further argued that the Senate President was undermining the court’s authority by violating previous court orders while simultaneously seeking contempt charges against her.
Describing the application as “malicious and incompetent,” Akpoti-Uduaghan asked the court to dismiss it, insisting her letter was not addressed to the court and had no bearing on the legal issues under consideration.
“The third defendant has not approached this honourable court with clean hands,” she stated. “His application is a diversionary tactic designed to delay justice, suppress my right to free expression, and punish my constituents by prolonging their lack of representation.”
The court is expected to hear all pending applications in the matter on May 12.
Edited by Nzubechukwu Eze.
