Senate President Godswill Akpabio has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to order suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete a controversial satirical apology she shared on social media, which he claims violated an existing court order.
This request is part of a wider legal battle stemming from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension from the Senate in March after a heated exchange with Akpabio in February over seating arrangements. Just before her suspension, the Kogi Central senator also accused Akpabio of sexual harassment—a claim that escalated tensions.
In April, Justice Binta Nyako, who is now handling the case, ruled that both parties must refrain from making public comments or social media posts related to the case. However, on April 27, Akpoti-Uduaghan posted what she called a “satirical apology” on Facebook, mocking Akpabio’s leadership style and the alleged toxic atmosphere in the Senate under his watch.
The Akpabio vs Akpoti-Uduaghan legal battle took another turn as Akpabio’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kehinde Ogunwumiju, asked the court to order the removal of the post from all her platforms. They argued the post was a direct violation of the court’s gag order.
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The legal team also wants the court to compel the suspended senator to publish a written apology in at least two national newspapers and submit a sworn affidavit confirming she has complied with the directives.
The satirical post that sparked this motion sarcastically “apologized” for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect.” She further insinuated that success in the Senate was not based on competence but on compliance with Akpabio’s preferences. The Akpabio vs Natasha Akpoti legal battle has since drawn wide reactions, with some seeing her post as bold protest and others calling it contempt of court.
This case is just one of several lawsuits between the two politicians. Akpoti-Uduaghan has sued Akpabio and his aide, Mfon Patrick, for ₦100 billion in damages over an alleged defamatory post that accused her of lacking legislative competence. She is also demanding ₦300 million in legal costs.
In response, Akpabio’s wife, Ekaette, filed two separate defamation suits against Akpoti-Uduaghan, seeking ₦350 billion for alleged reputational damage to her husband.
As the Akpabio vs Natasha Akpoti legal battle drags on, Nigerians continue to follow the unfolding drama, which mixes politics, legal confrontations, and personal accusations—raising questions about decorum, power dynamics, and accountability in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
