Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order prohibiting all parties involved in the lawsuit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and three others from granting press interviews regarding the case.
The ruling came on Friday after Akpabio’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), complained that Akpoti-Uduaghan had been granting interviews to various television stations about the ongoing case, which is still pending before the court. He specifically mentioned that she had appeared on BBC and CNN to discuss the matter.
In response, Justice Nyako stated that no press interviews should be conducted by any party or their legal representatives in relation to the case. Additionally, she prohibited the parties and their lawyers from streaming the court proceedings on social media.
During the hearing, Natasha’s lawyer, Jibril Okutepa, informed the court that the case was being heard for the first time after being transferred from a previous court, led by Justice Obiora Egwuatu. Okutepa noted that all necessary documents had been filed and exchanged, except for one, and requested that the court consolidate all pending applications for a hearing along with the main case. He emphasized the urgency of the matter, as his client’s suspension was for a limited period and she desired a speedy resolution.
Lawyers for the National Assembly Clerk, Charles Iyoila, and Senate representatives, including Paul Daudu and Umeh Kalu (SAN), did not object to Okutepa’s request for consolidated hearings. However, Ogunwumiju and Kalu, representing Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, opposed the request.
Justice Nyako ruled in favor of Okutepa, deciding that the court would hear all applications, including any preliminary objections, alongside the main suit. The case was adjourned to May 12 for further proceedings.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawsuit challenges the Senate’s decision to suspend her for six months over allegations of misconduct, arguing that she was not given a fair hearing before the suspension was imposed.