ABUJA: Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a significant order in the ongoing legal battle between suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, along with three other defendants.
On Friday, she ruled that all parties involved in the case, including their lawyers, must refrain from granting press interviews or engaging in public discussions regarding the matter while it is pending before the court.
The decision followed a complaint from Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), the lawyer representing Akpabio, who expressed concerns that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had been granting press interviews to several media outlets, including BBC and CNN, discussing the details of the case. Ogunwumiju argued that such public statements could undermine the legal process and influence the outcome of the case.
In her ruling, Justice Nyako stated that no party, including their legal representatives, would be allowed to speak to the media about the subject matter of the case, given that it was sub-judice. She also prohibited any form of live-streaming or sharing of the court proceedings on social media, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the judicial process.
Furthermore, during the court proceedings, Jibril Okutepa, the counsel for Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, informed the court that the case was being heard for the first time after being transferred from another court, where it had initially been presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
Okutepa urged the court to consolidate all pending applications, including objections raised by the defendants, and to prioritize the hearing of the substantive suit, as Natasha’s suspension was time-sensitive and would expire in six months. He expressed his client’s desire for an expedited resolution of the matter.
Representatives from the Senate and the Clerk of the National Assembly, including Charles Iyoila and Paul Daudu, did not object to Okutepa’s request for a consolidated hearing. However, Ogunwumiju and Umeh Kalu (SAN), representing Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, opposed the application, arguing for separate hearings of the objections and the main case.
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Justice Nyako, after considering the arguments, ruled in favor of Okutepa, agreeing that all the pending applications should be heard together with the substantive case. She then adjourned the matter to May 12 for further hearing.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan legal action stems from her suspension by the Senate for six months due to alleged misconduct. She contends that the decision to suspend her was made without affording her a fair hearing, which is central to the legal challenges she has raised in court.
The outcome of this case will likely have significant implications for both her political career and the broader issues surrounding the legislative process in Nigeria.
This case, as it progresses, highlights the increasing role of media in shaping public perception of legal matters, but also underscores the necessity of ensuring that such matters are handled within the confines of the law, free from external influences or public interference.
