A Federal High Court in Abuja today found suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court. The ruling, delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, stemmed from a Facebook post the Senator published on April 27.
Justice Binta Nyako issued the ruling during proceedings in a suit filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is challenging her suspension from the Senate.
Before considering the main suit, the court addressed a contempt application brought by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
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Akpabio argued that the senator’s satirical Facebook post violated a prior court order restraining all parties from making public or online comments related to the case.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyers argued that the post had nothing to do with her suspension and instead referred to separate sexual harassment allegations involving Akpabio, the third respondent in the suit.
However, Justice Nyako ruled that the post was indeed linked to the suspension case and constituted a violation of the court’s directive.
The court held Akpoti-Uduaghan in contempt and ordered her to issue a written apology within seven days in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page. She was also fined ₦5 million.
