Court restricts Natasha, Akpabio, others from media engagements
By Jeffrey Agbo
Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has prohibited all parties involved in the lawsuit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and three others from making media statements regarding the case.
The ruling was issued on Friday after Akpabio’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), raised concerns that the plaintiff had been appearing on multiple television platforms, discussing details of the ongoing litigation.
In a concise directive, Justice Nyako declared that neither the litigants nor their legal representatives should grant press interviews about the case. Additionally, she forbade them from live-streaming or sharing updates on social media regarding court proceedings.
During the session, Ogunwumiju specifically alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan had spoken on major international platforms, including BBC and CNN, about the matter pending before the court.
Responding, Justice Nyako reiterated that the case was sub judice and reaffirmed the restriction on all forms of public commentary and social media broadcasts related to the proceedings.
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Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, Jibril Okutepa, informed the court that the case had recently been reassigned from Justice Obiora Egwuatu’s courtroom and was making its first appearance before Justice Nyako. He added that all relevant documents, except one, had already been exchanged among the parties. He urged the court to hear all pending applications together with the main suit, emphasising the urgency of the matter due to his client’s limited-term suspension.
Lawyers representing the Clerk of the National Assembly, Charles Iyoila, and Senate counsel Paul Daudu raised no objections to the request for a consolidated hearing. However, Ogunwumiju and Umeh Kalu (SAN), representing Senator Neda Imasuem—Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct—opposed the motion.
After consideration, Justice Nyako ruled in favour of Okutepa’s request, allowing all pending applications, including preliminary objections, to be heard alongside the substantive case.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to May 12 for hearing.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawsuit challenges the Senate’s decision to suspend her for six months over alleged misconduct, arguing that she was not given a fair hearing before the disciplinary action was enforced.
