Senate president, Godswill Akpabio may be facing a contempt of court charges and possibly a jail term after Natasha Akpoti pushed for his trial at Federal High Court in Abuja.
Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central, was suspended from the Senate via a majority vote initiated by the Senator Akpabio, following an altercation with Akpoti-Uduaghan over seating arrangements on the Senator floor. In the aftermath Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and filed a petition.
Subsequently, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct recommended a suspension for Akpoti-Uduagha who had filed a suit at the Federal High Court challenging her suspension on March 4, 2025, and the court presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled against her suspension by the Senate.
Based on this Akpoti-Uduaghan approached the Court and on Thursday a notice of “disobedience of court order” signed by its Registrar pursuant to Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act 2004, made it plain to Akpabio and others mentioned in the suit to note their willful disobedience of the order, which was served on them on March 5. Akpabio in his response had noted that the Court lacked the jurisdiction to interfere in matters of the Senate.
The notice contained in form 48 of the Federal High Court Abuja reminded Akpabio, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct chairman Senator Neda Imasuem and the Clerk of the National Assembly they could be liable for contempt of court, which carries an imprisonment risk.
The case will come up for hearing on March 25.
