Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, where a judge began hearing the contempt case brought against her by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The session was scheduled by Justice Binta Nyako, who had earlier fixed the date to handle the matter, as well as a separate contempt charge filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan against Akpabio, the Senate, and others.
The legal battle started in February after a tense exchange between both lawmakers during a Senate sitting.
The disagreement, which began over where Akpoti-Uduaghan was meant to sit, quickly escalated and later spilled into public space.
In a television appearance, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the Senate President of misconduct, which deepened the clash.
In response to what she saw as an attempt to punish her, the Kogi Central senator went to court to stop the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from investigating her.
On March 4, the court issued an order stopping the Senate from starting any disciplinary action against her.
Despite that court decision, the Senate went ahead two days later, on March 6, to suspend her from its activities.
The move was based on a report from the committee, which accused her of serious misconduct.
Now, both parties are before the same judge, each accusing the other of not obeying the law.
The court will have to decide whether either side has gone too far in a dispute that has moved from the Senate chambers to the courtroom.
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