Court grants Akpabio’s request, issues new order to Natasha, others

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a fresh directive restricting both parties involved in the lawsuit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from speaking to the media about the matter.

The case, which pits Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and three others, concerns her six-month suspension from the Senate.

At Friday’s proceedings, Justice Nyako barred all parties and their legal representatives from granting interviews or publicly discussing the ongoing case.

This order came in response to concerns raised by Akpabio’s counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), who accused the senator of engaging with multiple media outlets despite the case being sub judice.

“She has been to the BBC and CNN to speak on the issue,” Ogunwumiju told the court, arguing that the media engagements could undermine the legal process.

In her ruling, Justice Nyako emphasized the need to preserve the sanctity of the judicial proceedings.

“There shall be no press interviews by all parties and their lawyers as regards the subject matter of the case,” she ruled.

The court also prohibited the live streaming or social media broadcasting of the proceedings.

Jibril Okutepa (SAN), representing Akpoti-Uduaghan, informed the court that this was the first hearing since the matter was transferred from Justice Obiora Egwuatu’s court. He stated that all necessary filings had been exchanged, except for one, and urged the court to hear all outstanding motions alongside the main suit.

Okutepa emphasized the urgency of the matter, noting that his client’s suspension was for a defined term and called for a swift resolution.

Opposing counsel representing the Clerk of the National Assembly, Charles Iyoila and Paul Daudu, did not object to the consolidated hearing request. However, Ogunwumiju and Umeh Kalu (SAN), appearing for Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct, opposed it.

Justice Nyako, however, granted Okutepa’s request, stating the court would proceed to hear all preliminary objections together with the substantive matter. The case was adjourned to May 12 for a hearing.

Akpoti-Uduaghan is contesting the Senate’s decision to suspend her, alleging that the process lacked fair hearing and violated her rights.