Suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has denied breaching a court order restricting her from commenting on social media or granting interviews concerning her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

 

In a counter-affidavit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed Akpabio’s claims that her April 27 Facebook video — in which she issued a satirical apology — violated the court’s directive.

 

Akpabio, through his legal team led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, had urged the court to compel Akpoti-Uduaghan to delete the video and related posts, alleging that they flouted judicial instructions and influenced ongoing legal proceedings.

 

But Natasha argued that the video was protected political satire and not related to the ongoing case. “It is political satire on patriarchal norms in the legislature and is protected speech under Section 39(1) of the Constitution,” she said in her affidavit.

 

She maintained that her post made no mention of the ongoing suit and posed no risk of prejudicing the court process. “The applicant’s affidavit consists of conclusions, legal arguments, and extraneous facts and is liable to be struck out,” she added.

 

The viral video, posted days after court restrictions were issued, featured Natasha mockingly apologizing to Akpabio for “the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect,” a move widely interpreted as a jab at the Senate President amid ongoing tensions.

 

Akpoti-Uduaghan reaffirmed her earlier claims that Akpabio made sexual advances following a heated disagreement over Senate seating arrangements, allegations that have since spiraled into legal confrontation and political controversy.