Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has sued Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Neda Imasuen for contempt, alleging they defied a court order that barred disciplinary action against her. The Kogi senator was suspended despite a court ruling, prompting legal action that could lead to imprisonment for the respondents.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has filed a contempt application against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Neda Imasuen for allegedly violating a court order that barred disciplinary action against her.
The controversy stems from a March 4 ruling by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Akpoti-Uduaghan. However, on March 6, the Senate suspended her for six months over alleged misconduct and ordered her office to be sealed, disregarding the court's injunction.
The disciplinary action followed a heated February 20 plenary session, during which Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged her assigned seat and repeatedly raised points of order despite being overruled by Akpabio. The Ethics Committee, led by Senator Imasuen, later found her conduct inappropriate, leading to her suspension.
In her legal filing, Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that the Senate leadership “deliberately and contumaciously disregarded” the court’s ruling. The court has since issued a notice of disobedience, warning Akpabio, Imasuen, and the Clerk of the National Assembly that they could face imprisonment for violating the order. The case is expected to escalate, testing the limits of judicial authority over legislative actions.
