Court Bars Media Interviews, Social Media Streaming in Natasha vs Akpabio Case

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria has issued a gag order against all parties involved in the lawsuit filed by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and three others.

Presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, delivered the ruling on Friday, April 4, 2025, after counsel to Akpabio, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), raised concerns that the plaintiff had been granting press interviews across various television platforms, discussing the matter which is still before the court.

In her ruling, Justice Nyako ordered that no party or their lawyers should grant media interviews or comment on the subject matter of the case in public.

“There shall be no press interviews by all parties and their lawyers as regards the subject matter of the case,” the judge ruled.

The court also prohibited the streaming of court proceedings on social media platforms by any of the parties or their representatives.

This development comes in the wake of Natasha’s failed recall petition, which INEC recently declared unconstitutional, and follows her continued public engagements.

Details later…