Deborah Akinyosoye
The Federal High Court in Abuja has barred all parties involved 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 or making public comments on the case.
Justice Binta Nyako issued the order on Friday following a complaint raised by Akpabio’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), who accused the plaintiff of embarking on a media campaign by granting interviews to various television stations on the subject matter of the suit, which is still pending before the court.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Nyako held that no party or their counsel should comment on the case publicly, particularly through press interviews or media streaming.
“There shall be no press interviews by all parties and their lawyers as regards the subject matter of this case,” she ruled, warning that any violation of the order would amount to contempt of court.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed a suit to stop the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions from instituting disciplinary proceedings against her. On March 4, the judge issued an order restraining the Senate from commencing disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan following an ex parte application filed by counsels to the senator.
The judge ruled that the defendants should come and show cause within 72 hours, upon the service of the order, why an interlocutory injunction should not be issued against them.
Two days after the judgment, the Senate suspended the Kogi senator for six months over alleged gross misconduct. The decision followed the adoption of the report by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
On March 19, Obiora Egwuatu, presiding judge, vacated his March 4 order restraining the Senate from suspending the Kogi senator. At the resumed court session on March 25, Egwuatu announced his decision to recuse himself from the case after taking the appearance of lawyers for the parties in the suit.
Egwuatu disclosed that his decision was because of an allegation of bias against him by Akpabio. He directed that the case file be transferred to John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, for reassignment. The case was subsequently reassigned to Nyako.
Meanwhile, the court has adjourned the matter for further proceedings to May 12.