Contempt charge: Akpabio, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to know fate June 27

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan will on June 27 know her fate in the contempt proceedings brought against her by Senate President Godswill Akpabio before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Similarly, the court will also rule on the counter-contempt allegation filed by Natasha against Akpabio, the Senate and others.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako gave the date at Tuesday’s session after the  legal counsels of the contenders adopted their submissions before the court.

Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan have been at daggers drawn since the Kogi Central lawmaker accused the Senate President of sexually harassing her.

She is currently serving a six-month suspension slammed on her by the senate over alleged gross misconduct.

Both lawmakers are accusing each other and others of disobeying court orders.

While Akpabio accused Natasha of posting a satirical apology letter to him on her social media page against court orders, the embattled lawmaker countered by accusing Akpabio and the Senate of flouting an earlier court order against taking any disciplinary action against her by going ahead to suspend her from the Senate.

In addition to these claims, the court will also rule on preliminary objections raised by all the defendants, including the Senate President, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.

During proceedings, lead counsel for Akpoti-Uduaghan, Michael Numa (SAN), and other defence lawyers confirmed they had filed and adopted all necessary processes in the matter.

Justice Nyako, while addressing the court, indicated her plan to address the contempt issues first.

“I will first of all look at the issues of contempt and take a decision on it,” she stated.

“Then I will look at the notices of preliminary objection.

If they succeed, that is the end of the case, and if they don’t, I will proceed to the originating summons filed by the plaintiff.”

Earlier reports indicated that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was present in court to observe the proceedings.

The court had previously fixed May 13 for hearing the contempt charge filed by Akpabio against Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The judge also noted that she would consider Akpoti-Uduaghan’s own contempt claim against Akpabio and the Senate.

All applications, including the originating summons and jurisdictional objections, will be determined together on the rescheduled date.