Senate President Godswill Akpabio has requested that an Abuja Federal High Court order suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central to take down a satirical apology that was uploaded on her social media accounts.
On April 27, Akpoti-Uduaghan posted a mocking apology to Akpabio on her official Facebook page, along with a little video.
Akpoti-Uduaghan apologised for the “crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect” in the post.
The lawmaker’s mocking apologies came in violation of a ruling by Justice Binta Nyako prohibiting both parties from speaking in public regarding a defamation action brought by the Senate President until the suit’s outcome.
Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued before the court that the social media post constitutes a breach of the judge’s directive.
The Senate President’s lawyers, therefore, asked the court to compel the suspended senator to delete the post from all her social media platforms.
They also wants the court to mandate Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish a written apology in at least two national dailies and file an affidavit confirming compliance.
Recall that the conflict between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan started after an altercation in the chamber over seating arrangements.
The Kogi senator was suspended shortly after accusing the Senate President of sexual harassment.
