“No Press Interviews, No Social Media Posts”: Judge Orders Total Media Blackout In Natasha-Akpabio Senate Dispute

A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred parties in the suit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and three others from granting press interviews on issues relating to the case.

Justice Binta Nyako issued the order on Friday following a complaint by Akpabio’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN).

Ogunwumiju had complained that the plaintiff was moving from one television station to another, granting press interviews on issues relating to her case, which is currently pending before the court. He claimed that Natasha had appeared on both BBC and CNN to speak on the matter.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Nyako stated that no party or lawyer involved in the case would be permitted to grant press interviews regarding the subject matter of the case.

Justice Nyako, who noted that the case was sub-judice, also prohibited the parties and their lawyers from streaming proceedings related to the case on social media.

At the commencement of proceedings on Friday, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Jibril Okutepa (SAN), informed the court that this was the first time the case was being heard, having been transferred from a previous court presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

Okutepa stated that all relevant documents had been filed and exchanged, except one, and requested that the court consolidate the hearing of all pending applications with the substantive suit. He emphasized that time was of the essence, as his client’s suspension was for a limited period, and that his client was desirous of an expeditious determination of the case.

Lawyers for the Clerk of the National Assembly, Charles Iyoila and Paul Daudu (SAN), who represented the Senate, did not object to Okutepa’s application for the substantive case to be heard with the objections raised by the defendants.

Ogunwumiju and Umeh Kalu (SAN), who represented Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, objected to Okutepa’s application.

Justice Nyako ruled in favor of Okutepa, stating that the court would hear all pending applications, including preliminary objections, alongside the substantive suit.

The case was adjourned until May 12 for hearing.

Listed as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the President of the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuem (Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct).

Through the suit, Natasha is challenging the Senate’s decision to suspend her for six months over alleged misconduct. She argues, among other things, that she was not accorded a fair hearing before the Senate took the decision to suspend her.