What many fear will happen is about to unfold as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has let out a subtle threat she may soon present evidence of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
But a federal high court in Abuja appears to have nipped the plan in the bud with an order restraining her, Akpabio and others involved in the suit from speaking to the press about issues related to the case.
How that works out for a woman desperate to fend off political hawks after her remains to be seen in a world of social media and proxy battles.
However, Justice Binta Nyako gave the gag order on Friday following a position canvassed by Akpabio’s lawyer, Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, that Natasha has been speaking about issues in the suit in the media.
Justice Nyako ordered all parties and their lawyers to stop granting press interviews related to the case.
Whether this fresh order of the court will stand is anybody’s guess because an earlier one stopping the Senate from deciding on Natasha’s suspension was ignored by the Upper Legislative Chamber, which rushed through her six months suspension two days after the order.
But on Thursday, Natasha said on Channels Television: “At the right time and at the right space, I will present the evidence that I have.”
On the same programme on Television, she praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for how it handled a recall petition against her.
“I’m a lawyer. I’m a senator and I understand how Nigeria works. For me, the most important thing is this recall process has been stalled.
Her words, “I give kudos and credit to INEC even though I believe they should have thrown it away from the get-go.
“Even though INEC did count 208,000 signatures, I bet you if they had gone into the verification stage, they would have struggled to even have 500 people come out to attest to signing that.”
With the subtle threat by Natasha to release evidence of the alleged sexual harassment against her, it is suspected that audio or video recordings of conversations between her and Akpabio may soon hit the social media, further worsening a drama that began with seating arrangements in the Senate.
