Court bars Akpabio, Natasha, others from granting interviews

The judge’s order was prompted by a complaint from Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), counsel to Akpabio, who alleged that Natasha was granting press interviews on issues related to her case, currently pending before the court. Ogunwumiju claimed that Natasha had appeared on BBC and CNN to discuss the issue.

Justice Nyako emphasized that there shall be no press interviews by all parties and their lawyers regarding the subject matter of the case. Additionally, she barred parties and their lawyers from streaming the proceedings of the case on social media, citing that the case is sub-judice.

In a separate development, counsel to Natasha, Jibril Okutepa, requested a consolidated hearing of all pending applications along with the substantive suit, citing the need for expeditious determination of the case. Justice Nyako ruled in favor of Okutepa, scheduling the next hearing for May 12.

Natasha’s suit challenges the Senate’s decision to suspend her for six months over alleged misconduct, with the plaintiff arguing that she was not accorded a fair hearing before the suspension.

Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has barred parties in the suit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and three others from granting press interviews on issues relating to the case.
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