The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday found the senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, guilty of contempt over a satirical apology she posted on her social media handle on April 27.
Justice Binta Nyako, while delivering judgment in the suit filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan challenging her suspension, began with the contempt application filed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel argued that the post was not connected to the court’s order concerning her suspension, but rather referred to a separate issue involving sexual harassment allegations against the third respondent Akpabio.
However, Justice Nyako held that after reviewing the post and the application before her instituted by the third respondent, she was satisfied that it was linked to the suspension matter before the court and therefore found the plaintiff guilty of contempt. She ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish an apology in two national dailies, her Facebook page within seven days, and also imposed a fine of N5 million.
