Abuja, Nigeria – Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of attempting to suppress her right to free expression through a motion seeking to delete her viral satirical letter and compel an apology to the court.
In a counter affidavit filed on May 8, Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that her letter, which addressed allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, was unrelated to the legal matter currently before the court, which pertains to her alleged unlawful suspension from the Senate.
Court Previously Barred Media Comments on Case
The controversy stems from a lawsuit filed by the senator to prevent any disciplinary action against her by the Senate pending a full hearing. Justice Emeka Nwite had granted the initial injunction on March 4 and summoned relevant Senate committees to court.
Despite the order, the Senate proceeded to suspend her the following day, prompting Justice Nwite to recuse himself from the matter after Akpabio raised concerns of bias. The case was reassigned to Justice Binta Nyako, who on April 4, barred both parties and their lawyers from engaging the media on the issue.
Akpabio Seeks Sanctions Over Satirical Letter
On May 5, Akpabio, through a motion filed by his legal team—Chief Olisa Agbakoba and Monday Ubani (both SANs)—requested the court to order Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete her satirical Facebook letter and apologize for allegedly violating the court’s media gag order.
However, in her response, the senator claimed the Senate President’s move was a calculated attempt to “ambush” the scheduled court hearing on May 12 and prolong her suspension without judicial resolution.
“The letter was directed at the 3rd defendant and not the court, and it addressed personal misconduct, not the legal dispute,” she stated.
Senator Accuses Akpabio of Undermining the Judiciary
Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that Akpabio, by allegedly defying the March and April court orders while simultaneously accusing her of contempt, was attempting to manipulate the legal process and mislead the judiciary.
“He has approached the court without clean hands, and this application is nothing more than a procedural ambush,” she added.
In her 28-paragraph affidavit, she maintained that the viral letter had no bearing on the substantive case and accused the Senate President of trying to derail the case’s resolution, effectively denying her constituents representation.
“This motion is not only malicious but aims to frustrate justice, reward contempt, and silence a dissenting voice,” she concluded.
The court is expected to hear all pending applications, including Akpabio’s motion and Akpoti-Uduaghan’s opposition, on May 12, 2025.
