A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has found Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, guilty of contempt of court over a satirical social media post that disobeyed a previous court order.
Delivering the ruling on Friday, July 4, Justice Binta Nyako stated that Senator Natasha violated a gag order by posting a mocking apology directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio on her official Facebook page dated April 7. The court had earlier restrained both parties from making public statements regarding the matter.
“Her post constituted a clear disobedience of the court’s earlier order,” Justice Nyako said.
As punishment for the contempt, the court ordered Senator Natasha to:
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Publish a fresh apology in two national newspapers.
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Republish the apology on her Facebook page.
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Pay a ₦5 million fine within seven days.
Origin of the Contempt Charge
The contempt proceedings stemmed from a suit filed by Senator Akpabio, who accused Senator Natasha of breaching a gag order by issuing a sarcastic apology that ridiculed the legal process. While the court upheld the contempt charge, it refused to grant Akpabio any additional personal reliefs.
Suspension Case Still Pending
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court is also set to deliver judgment on a separate suit filed by Senator Natasha, in which she is challenging the six-month suspension placed on her by the Nigerian Senate.
Background
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who made history as the first female senator from Kogi Central, has been suspended by the Senate since early 2024 over alleged misconduct during a legislative session. Her legal team argues that the suspension is politically motivated and a breach of her constitutional rights.
