By Joy Yesufu
A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and all parties involved in their ongoing legal dispute from granting media interviews or making public comments related to the case.
Justice Binta Nyako issued the order on Friday after Akpabio’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, complained that Akpoti-Uduaghan had appeared on several television programmes to discuss the matter.
In a brief ruling, Justice Nyako directed both parties and their legal representatives to refrain from speaking to the press or streaming court proceedings on social media until the case is resolved.
The suit, filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan, seeks to halt disciplinary actions initiated against her by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
On March 4, the court had granted an interim order restraining the Senate from taking any action against her, pending further hearings. However, despite the order, the Senate suspended the Kogi Central senator for six months on March 6 over alleged misconduct.
Subsequently, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who initially presided over the case, vacated the interim order and later recused himself from the case after Akpabio raised an allegation of bias.
The case was reassigned to Justice Nyako by Chief Judge John Tsoho.
