Akpabio vs. Akpoti-Uduaghan: Senate President Asks Court to Delete Satirical Post Amid Mounting Legal Tensions
In a rapidly escalating political and legal confrontation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel suspended Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete a satirical post she published on social media. The request is part of a motion filed within an existing suit, where Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan is challenging her suspension from the Senate.
This latest legal maneuver highlights the deepening rift between the two high-profile figures and raises broader questions about freedom of expression, abuse of legislative privilege, and the politicization of judicial orders.
Background of the Conflict
The feud stems from a February altercation over Senate seating arrangements, during which Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused Akpabio of sexual harassment. Shortly afterward, in March, the Senate controversially suspended her an act she has since contested in court, alleging it was politically motivated and a violation of her rights.
Court Orders and Alleged Violations
Justice Binta Nyako, who assumed oversight of the case in April after a recusal by a previous judge, had explicitly barred both parties from making public statements related to the case. Her ruling prohibited press interviews, social media posts, and television commentary on the matter to preserve the integrity of the proceedings.
Despite the gag order, Akpoti-Uduaghan published a viral satirical “apology” on April 27 via Facebook. In the post, she mockingly expressed regret for “maintaining dignity and self-respect,” and insinuated that advancement under Akpabio’s leadership depended not on merit but on personal conformity. The tone and content of the post drew sharp responses online, with supporters calling it bold protest and critics decrying it as contempt of court.
Legal Response by Akpabio
Reacting to the post, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kehinde Ogunwumiju, filed a motion accusing the suspended senator of violating the court’s restraint order. The Senate President is now seeking a judicial directive requiring Akpoti-Uduaghan to:
Delete the satirical post from all her social media platforms;
Issue a formal, public apology to be published in at least two national newspapers;
File an affidavit affirming compliance with these directives.
Entangled Legal Disputes and Political Fallout
This development is only one piece of a tangled legal web. Akpoti-Uduaghan has sued Akpabio and his legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, for defamation seeking ₦100 billion in general damages and ₦300 million in legal fees over a post accusing her of lacking legislative competence and prioritizing appearance over substance.
In a retaliatory move, Ekaette Akpabio, wife of the Senate President, filed two separate defamation suits against the Kogi senator, demanding ₦350 billion for alleged damage to her husband’s reputation.
Meanwhile, the core issue Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension from the Senate remains unresolved. The case has become a political powder keg, raising uncomfortable questions about the limits of parliamentary power, the judiciary’s role in intra-legislative disputes, and whether dissent within Nigeria’s upper chamber is being silenced through procedural punishment.
The Bigger Picture
This case is about more than just social media satire or political ego. At its core lies a test of democratic accountability: can elected representatives openly challenge authority without facing disproportionate punishment? Can satire be criminalized under the guise of contempt? And is the judiciary prepared to navigate a dispute that straddles the legal, legislative, and political spheres?
As both camps dig in, the courts now carry the burden of not just adjudicating law, but potentially shaping the tone of political dissent in Nigeria’s highest legislative body.
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