Court bars Natasha, Akpabio from media interviews on ongoing case

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, April 4, 2025, restrained the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio from granting media interviews while the suit filed by the female lawmaker is still pending before the court.

The new presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, gave the order during the hearing of the suit filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan to stop the Senate from investigating her.

Justice Nyako ordered that no party or counsel in the suit should grant media interviews pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Justice Nyako said: “There should be no press interview by all parties and counsel as regard the subject matter of this case. No streaming or social media post as regard this case.

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“There should be no TV interviews as regard this. There should be total media blockage.”

The Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, had on Thursday reassigned the case to Justice Nyako.

The development followed Justice Obiora Egwuatu’s withdrawal from the matter after citing allegations of bias reportedly levelled against him by the Senate President, who is the third defendant in the matter.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed a suit to stop the Senate committee on ethics and public petitions from instituting disciplinary proceedings against her.

The Star