Senate President Godswill Akpabio has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, requesting a judicial order compelling suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) to remove a satirical video apology posted on her social media platforms.
The video, published on April 27, 2025, features Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan issuing a sarcastic apology in which she alleges she was being penalised for “maintaining dignity and self-respect” and for rejecting what she described as inappropriate advances from the Senate President. The content implies that Akpabio expected his authority to be unquestioned, particularly by female colleagues.
The dispute reportedly originated from a disagreement on seating arrangements in the Senate chamber, which later escalated into a broader conflict. Subsequently, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a suit seeking to restrain the Senate from investigating her for alleged misconduct. She specifically requested the court to bar the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions—chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen—from initiating disciplinary proceedings.
Despite her legal move, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from Senate activities after making public accusations of sexual harassment against the Senate President.
Justice Binta Nyako, who presides over the matter, had earlier issued an order on April 4, 2025, instructing all involved parties to refrain from making public statements regarding the ongoing litigation.
Akpabio request video deletion
In a new legal filing, Akpabio’s counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, requested the court to direct Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete the video from all her social media channels, citing the court’s earlier gag order. Furthermore, the application asks that she be compelled to issue a written apology, to be published in at least two national newspapers, and submit an affidavit confirming her compliance with the court’s directive.
