Court To Decide On Natasha, Akpabio’s Contempt Suits June 27

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday fixed June 27 for judgment on the contempt charge filed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over an alleged social media post in breach of a court order.

Justice Binta Nyako will also deliver judgment on the earlier contempt charge filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan against Akpabio, the Senate and others over allegations of disobedience to an earlier court order.

The judge had, on April 4, restrained all parties in the suit filed by Akpoti-Udughan from granting media interviews or engaging in social media posts in respect of the subject matter before the court.

Akpabio’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, said Akpoti-Uduaghan had allegedly been going from one media station to another, granting press interviews on issues relating to the suit.

He filed a motion accusing the female lawmaker of flouting the court order by posting a “satirical letter” on her Facebook page.

On her part, Akpoti-Uduaghan earlier filed a contempt charge against the defendants for suspending her in contravention of the order given by the former presiding judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, restraining all the defendants from taking any action pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

The embattled senator had sued the Clerk of the National Assembly (NASS), Akpabio; the Senate; and Sen. Neda Imasuen, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct, as 1st to 4th defendants, respectively.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Akpabio’s counsel, Ogunwumiju, sought permission to withdraw all processes they are no longer relying on in the suit and urged the plaintiffs to withdraw theirs to streamline the entire process.

“Let them withdraw what they are not proceeding with so that we can withdraw our own,” he said.

Following his request, there was a brief argument amongst all parties on what motions should be withdrawn in the case.

Justice Nyako stepped in and informed the parties that there are lots of repetitions in the processes filed in the case.

“We have two issues of contempt and the originating summons. The one that is dealing with the mandatory injunction should be withdrawn because it is subsumed in the original summons,” she said.

She, however, urged parties to proceed with adopting their processes but warned that she will not fail to address discontentment with irrelevant processes in the case.

Counsel for Akpoti-Uduaghan, M.J. Numan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, adopted his processes in the case.

Similarly, Paul Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, representing the 2nd defendant; Ogunwumiju, for the 3rd defendant, and Charles Yoila, representing the 4th defendant, also adopted their processes in the suit.

Justice Nyako subsequently adjourned proceedings till June 27 for judgment.

Court To Decide On Natasha, Akpabio’s Contempt Suits June 27 is first published on The Whistler Newspaper