By Kolawole Ojebisi
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on a Federal High Court in Abuja to order the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to pull down a viral satirical apology penned and posted on all her social media pages.
While making a case for their demand, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued that the post constitutes a breach of the judge’s directive.
Akpabio’s team 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.
The dispute between Akpabio and the Akpoti-Uduaghan started after an altercation in the red chamber over seating arrangements.
The Senate disciplinary committee suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan in March and withdrew her security details.
However, in trying to explain her side of the story, Akpoti-Uduaghan said that there’s more to her clash with Akpabio than meets the eye, claiming that the senate president was against her for previously turning down his sexual advances.
Meanwhile, on April 27, Akpoti-Uduaghan deployed a literary weapon in her war of words with Akpabio by publishing a sarcastic apology to the Senate President on her official Facebook page — and a short video into the bargain
In the post, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was sorry for the “crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect”.
The lawmaker’s action was despite an order by Justice Binta Nyako, restraining both parties from making public comments about the case, especially remarks related to allegations of sexual harassment, pending the determination of an existing suit.
