Senate President Godswill Akpabio, along with other top officials of the National Assembly, risks imprisonment for allegedly disobeying a court order. This follows contempt proceedings initiated by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate leadership for failing to comply with a court directive issued on March 4, 2025.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, issued a Form 48 notice of disobedience of court order, warning Akpabio, the Clerk of the National Assembly, and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, of the consequences of their actions.
The notice, signed by the court registrar pursuant to Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act 2004, stated that the defendants are liable for contempt of court and may face imprisonment unless they comply with the court’s order.
The court noted that despite being served with the enrolled order on March 5, 2025, the defendants deliberately disregarded the directive and proceeded with actions in defiance of the court’s authority.
The notice reads in part:
“Take notice that pursuant to Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act, your wilful disobedience of the order of this Honourable Court, Coram: Hon. Justice O.A. Egwuatu J, made on 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.”
The court further emphasized that the defendants’ actions were in “flagrant defiance” of its authority, despite being duly served with the order. The case stems from a motion filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, seeking to restrain the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct from investigating her for alleged misconduct following events during a plenary session on February 20, 2025.
In the enrolled order, the court granted interim reliefs, including an injunction to halt the investigation pending the determination of the motion on notice. The court also directed the defendants to show cause why an interlocutory injunction should not be granted against them. Additionally, the court declared that any actions taken during the pendency of the suit would be null and void.
The contempt proceedings highlight the escalating tension between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership, with the court’s intervention underscoring the importance of adherence to judicial directives. If the defendants fail to comply, they could face imprisonment, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal and political dispute.
