Senate President Godswill Akpabio has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to order suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to remove a satirical apology she posted on her social media accounts.
On April 27, Akpoti-Uduaghan posted a brief video in which she mockingly apologised to Akpabio, claiming it was for not letting him have his way with her.
Akpoti-Uduaghan declared she was “sorry for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect” and for rejecting the approaches of the Senate President, whom she implied believed no one could deny him.
The quarrel between the two senators comes from an incident in the Senate chamber about seating arrangements.
Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a lawsuit to prevent the Senate from investigating her for alleged misconduct.
She requested that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen, refrain from taking any disciplinary action against her.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was later suspended after she accused the Senate President of sexual harassment.
On April 4, 2025, the presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, ordered all parties involved in the suit to refrain from making public statements regarding the ongoing case.
Meanwhile, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, has filed a new suit requesting the court to order Akpoti-Uduaghan to remove the video, claiming it violated a judge’s order.
Akpabio’s counsel also asked the court to force Akpoti-Uduaghan to take down the post from all of her social media sites.
Additionally, Ogunwumiju urged the court to require Akpoti-Uduaghan to issue a written apology in at least two national newspapers and produce an affidavit proving her compliance.