The Federal High Court in Abuja will tomorrow, Tuesday, hear a contempt charge filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio against Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpabio told the court that Senator Natasha allegedly made a social media post in breach of a court order.
The Senate President felt offended by the satirical apology Senator Natasha posted on her social media handle.
Justice Binta Nyako, who adjourned the matter until Tuesday by 12 pm, also said she would hear the earlier contempt charge filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan against Akpabio, the Senate and others over allegations of disobedience to an earlier court order.
“I want a copy of the Senate rules as well. I will take you tomorrow. I am going to clear the diary,” the judge said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nyako 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.
The development followed a complaint by Akpabio’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, that Akpoti-Uduaghan had allegedly been going from one media station to another, granting press interviews on issues relating to the suit.
However, Akpabio had filed a motion accusing her of flouting the court order by posting a “satirical letter” on her Facebook page.
Also, Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier filed a contempt charge against the defendants for suspending her in contravention with 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; Sen. Neda Imasuem, the Chairman; and the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct as the 1st to 4th defendants, respectively.
Meanwhile, while responding, Akpoti-Uduaghan's lawyers maintained that the said satirical letter has nothing to do with the proceedings before Justice Nyako, rather a case of sexual harassment before another court.
Besides, lead counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, who also accused the respondents of disobeying the orders of the court, informed Justice Nyako of a contempt proceedings initiated against the respondents and urged the court to take their application first.
In a short ruling, the trial judge, who observed that the issue of contempt is crucial to the proceedings, fixed May 13 for hearing of all applications and the substantive suit.