Abuja, Nigeria – President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and other top senators risk jail time as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan initiates contempt proceedings against the Senate over alleged disobedience of a court order.

The Federal High Court in Abuja issued Form 48, a legal notice warning of the consequences of disobeying a court ruling, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.

The defendants in the case include the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the President of the Senate, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, Senator Neda Imasuem.

The notice, signed by the court registrar and issued under Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act 2004, underscores that Akpabio, Imasuem, and the Clerk of the National Assembly could face contempt charges and possible imprisonment for ignoring the directive issued by Justice O.A. Egwuatu on March 4, 2025.

The court stated that despite being formally served with the order on March 5, 2025, the accused senators deliberately disregarded the ruling and continued with actions that defied the court’s authority. The notice, in part, reads:

“TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act, your wilful disobedience of the order of this Honourable Court… renders you liable for contempt of court, for which you may be committed to prison unless you comply with the said order.”

The legal battle stems from a Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct’s investigation into alleged misconduct by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan following events that transpired during a plenary session on February 20, 2025. The court had issued an interim injunction restraining the committee from proceeding with the probe, pending the determination of a motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.

With the Senate leadership allegedly defying this ruling, the court is now poised to enforce compliance, signaling a potential legal showdown between the judiciary and the legislative arm of government.