The legal battle between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership has escalated, as the Kogi Central lawmaker has filed contempt charges against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other top officials over her six-month suspension without pay.
The contempt charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, also names the Clerk of the National Assembly and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, as defendants.
This development follows a ruling by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on March 4, restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics from proceeding with any investigation against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The investigation stemmed from alleged misconduct during a Senate plenary session on February 20 and a subsequent referral on February 25, 2025.
Despite the court’s order, the Senate moved forward with the suspension just two days later. The action prompted Akpoti-Uduaghan to accuse the Senate leadership of “wilful disobedience” to the judicial directive.
According to court documents, the enrolled order of the interim injunction was served on the defendants on March 5.
However, the Senate ignored the directive and went ahead with her suspension, an act the senator described as “flagrant defiance of the authority of the court.”
“The defendants/contemnors deliberately and contumaciously disregarded the binding directive of the court and proceeded with acts in flagrant defiance,” read the contempt charge filed against Akpabio, Imasuen, and the Clerk of the National Assembly.
In response, the Senate President challenged the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the judiciary has no power to interfere in the internal affairs of the legislature.
However, the Federal High Court, in a notice signed by its Registrar, warned that defying the subsisting order could lead to Akpabio, Imasuen, and the Clerk of the National Assembly being held in contempt, which carries the possibility of imprisonment.
