Court Threatens Senate President Akpabio With Jail Over Natasha’s Suspension

The Abuja High Court has issued a stern warning to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, threatening him with possible imprisonment over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.

The development follows a contempt application filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing Akpabio and other key Senate officials of disobeying a valid court order. On March 4, Justice Obiora Egwuatu had granted an ex-parte order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary action against the senator. This was based on a 25-paragraph affidavit filed a day earlier by her legal team.

Despite the court’s clear directive declaring any such action during the pendency of the suit as “null, void and of no effect,” the Senate moved ahead to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months. Her office was sealed, and she was instructed to return all Senate property to the Clerk of the National Assembly.

The suspension stemmed from a report adopted by the Senate, prepared by the Ethics Committee led by Senator Neda Imasuen, following a February 20 altercation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio.

In response to the Senate’s actions, the senator filed a Form 48 Notice of Disobedience of Court Order at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The application, dated March 7 and signed by the court registrar, explicitly warns Akpabio and others listed as defendants of the consequences of defying the March 4 court order.

The notice states that their “wilful disobedience” to the court’s directive could lead to imprisonment unless they comply. It further accuses the Senate leadership of “deliberately and contumaciously” defying the authority of the court, despite being formally served with the order on March 5.