Natasha AkpotiFederal High Court in Abuja has fined suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, N5 Million plus publication of apology in national newspapers for contempt over a satirical Facebook post published on April 27.
Justice Binta Nyako, who delivered the ruling today, July 4, is originally presiding over a case filed by the suspended Senator challenging her suspension from the Senate.
Before addressing the main suit, the court considered a contempt application brought by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, saying that the Facebook post breached a prior court order that barred all parties from making public comments or social media posts related to the ongoing case.
In her defense, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team claimed that the post was unrelated to the suspension case and instead referenced a separate issue involving sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.
But Justice Nyako disagreed and ruled that the post was clearly linked to the subject of the lawsuit.
She subsequently found the senator in contempt of court, ordering the suspended Senator to issue a formal apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days, in addition to a fine of ₦5 million.
