Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio Barred from Interviews in Pending Lawsuit

 By: Manoah kikekon 

Godswill Akpabio and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan 

In a decisive ruling on Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a sweeping gag order, prohibiting Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other involved parties from granting media interviews related to an ongoing legal battle.  

Justice Binta Nyako, the newly assigned judge, handed down the directive during proceedings in the lawsuit filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan, who seeks to halt a Senate investigation against her. The court mandated a total media blackout, barring all parties and their legal representatives from discussing the case in press interviews, social media posts, or live streams.  

Key Details of the Court Order:

- Strict Media Ban: Justice Nyako explicitly forbade any public commentary on the case, emphasizing, "No press interviews, social media posts, or TV discussions regarding this matter will be permitted until the case is resolved."*  

- Case Reassignment: The lawsuit was recently transferred to Justice Nyako after the original judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, recused himself due to allegations of bias raised by Akpabio, the third defendant.  

The ruling underscores the judiciary’s effort to prevent prejudicial publicity that could influence ongoing legal proceedings. With high-profile figures involved, the case has drawn significant public attention, making the court’s intervention crucial to ensuring a fair trial.  

As the legal battle unfolds behind closed media doors, observers await further developments in this contentious dispute between the suspended senator and Nigeria’s Senate leadership.  

(NAN)