• CHRICED demands public apology from Akpabio over suspension
• Senate backs Akpabio, urges focus on legislative duties
• Akpabio warns Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions could affect women in politics
• You’re not bigger than Senate, Adeola tells Akpoti-Uduaghan

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Clerk of the National Assembly and others risk jail for allegedly disobeying an order of the court, as the suspended Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), commenced her contempt proceedings against the Senate.

This was as the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) urged Akpabio to publicly apologise to all female senators for mistreating Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Barely two days after Akpoti-Uduaghan addressed the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in New York, claiming she was suspended for raising sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio, the Senate unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Akpabio’s leadership amid the allegations

While thanking his colleagues for their continued support, Akpabio warned that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions could negatively impact women in politics.Adding to the support, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West) lampooned Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying she should reflect on the fact that she is not bigger than the Senate.

Listed as 1st to 4th defendants and contemnor are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Senate President and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct (Neda Imasuen).

In a notice of disobedience of court order signed by the Registrar of the Court pursuant to Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act 2004 and notice of consequences of disobedience of an order of the court made on March 4, 2025, the court urged the defendants/contemnors to take notice of their wilful disobedience of the order of the court given by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on March 4, 2025.

The Form 48 was issued by the Federal High Court, Abuja, in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025. The court noted that the disobedience rendered Akpabio, Imasuen and the Clerk liable for contempt of court, for which they might be committed to prison unless they comply with the said order.

The court said despite being duly served with the enrolled order on March 5, 2025, the defendants/contemnors, deliberately and contumaciously disregarded its binding directive, and proceeded with acts in flagrant defiance of the authority of the court.

The Guardian sighted the order, yesterday, but could not verify if it had been served on the defendants/contemnors.CHRICED noted that the timing of the disciplinary action against the female senator suggests a deliberate attempt to silence female lawmakers, who dared to challenge the Senate President’s authority.

The Executive Director, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, stated, yesterday, that the organisation had been closely monitoring happenings within the Senate, particularly regarding the treatment of the four female senators among the 109.

Zikirullahi expressed concern regarding the “consistently disrespectful and dismissive behaviour exhibited by Akpabio towards his female colleagues, while other senators remained silent.”  He observed that the recent and expedited suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan represented yet another instance of the ongoing violation of the rights of women senators to express themselves.

The CHRICED boss recalled that Akpabio had previously exhibited a troubling disregard for Sen Ireti Kingibe, the only representative of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate. He said this was particularly apparent when she expressed her dissatisfaction on the Senate floor regarding her exclusion from significant discussions, especially those pertaining to the FCT budget.

Zikirullahi described the Senate’s action as a travesty of democracy and a disgrace to the esteemed chamber that such gross injustice could occur against a senator simply for daring to expose alleged sexual harassment by Akpabio.

While applauding the Kogi senator for her bravery and refusal to remain silent in a largely male-dominated Senate, he said her actions not only underscored the difficulties encountered by women in politics but also acted as a source of hope and motivation for women globally who faced comparable challenges.

WHILE passing a confidence vote in Akpabio, the Senate also urged Nigerians to refrain from distractions, as the issue raised by Akpoti-Uduaghan was already before the court of law.  Citing Order 40 of its standing rules, the Senate stated that it could not interfere in a matter under judicial review.

The motion for the vote of confidence was moved by Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) and seconded by Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Olalere Oyewumi (PDP, Osun West) at yesterday’s plenary.

With overwhelming support from lawmakers, the resolution reaffirmed the Senate’s backing of Akpabio’s leadership and its commitment to national legislative responsibilities.

In response to the allegations, the Senate reiterated that the judiciary should be allowed to handle the matter.  However, Akpabio expressed disappointment over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions after her suspension, accusing her of trying to embarrass Nigeria on the international stage by distorting facts.

“I am aware that when she left the chamber, she went to Berekete Family as well as Arise Television, and distorted the facts. I am aware that she has now externalised it by attempting to embarrass the Federal Republic of Nigeria by giving a narrative at the IPU event different from what occurred in the Senate,” Akpabio stated.

He commended another lawmaker, Khafilat Ogbara, for holding a press conference in New York “to correct the misinformation” and caution international media against misrepresenting the situation.

“We remain in peace and make room for her to understand that what she is doing will discourage other men from picking women,” Akpabio said, urging his colleagues not to visit the sins of the father on the children.

ACCORDING to Adeola, Akpoti-Uduaghan remains suspended until she fulfils the conditions offered for her suspension to be reconsidered or a court of competent jurisdiction decides otherwise.  He noted the Senate is bigger than all the present members and will outlive all the members.

In a statement he signed, yesterday, in Abuja, Adeola warned Akpoti-Uduaghan not to position herself as bigger than the Senate.  Adeola explained that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for flagrant violation of the Senate Standing Orders and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He noted that the Kogi senator did not exhaust the internal mechanisms available to her for any grievance, stressing that by filing a lawsuit against the presiding officer of the Senate and the Senate, her petition could not be entertained in the Senate until the court decides on the suit she filed.