Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other top Senate officials could face jail time for failing to comply with a court order, as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan initiates contempt proceedings against them.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended for six months over alleged violations of Senate rules, has taken legal action, accusing the Senate leadership of disregarding a judicial directive.
Court Issues Contempt Notice
The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a Form 48 notice in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, listing Akpoti-Uduaghan as the plaintiff and the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Akpabio, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, Senator Neda Imasuem, as defendants.
The notice warns that these officials may face imprisonment for failing to adhere to a court ruling.
Signed by the court registrar, the order cites Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, 2004, and states that Akpabio, Imasuem, and the Clerk of the National Assembly are guilty of “willful disobedience” to a directive issued by Justice O.A. Egwuatu on March 4, 2025.
Despite being formally served the order on March 5, 2025, the Senate leadership allegedly ignored it and proceeded with actions that violated the court’s instructions.
The notice of consequences attached to the Form 48 reads:
“TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act, your willful disobedience of the order of this Honourable Court, Coram: Hon. Justice O.A. Egwuatu J, made on the 4th day of March 2025, renders you liable for contempt of court, for which you may be committed to prison unless you comply with the said order.”
Earlier, the court issued an interim injunction barring the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct from proceeding with its investigation into Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The probe stemmed from an alleged misconduct during a Senate plenary session on February 20, 2025, which was referred to the committee on February 25, 2025. However, the court ruled that the investigation must be halted until the case is fully heard.
Additionally, the court directed Akpabio and the other defendants to “show cause” as to why a permanent injunction should not be issued to prevent further investigations into the allegations against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The court further declared that any Senate actions taken while the case is pending are “null, void, and of no effect.”
