Senator for Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was found guilty of contempt by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday for posting a satirical apology on her Facebook page on April 27.
Justice Binta Nyako began her decision in Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition challenging her suspension with the Senate President’s contempt application.
Akpabio’s motion disputed the senator’s social media post, saying that it violated a previous court order prohibiting all parties from commenting on the case in the press or making social media posts about it.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel contended that the post was unrelated to the court’s decision suspending her, but rather linked to a distinct problem involving sexual harassment charges against the third respondent (Akpabio).
However, Justice Nyako determined that after analyzing the post and the application filed by the third respondent, she was satisfied that it was related to the suspension matter before the court, and so found the plaintiff guilty of contempt.
The judge ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to issue an apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days and also a fine of N5 million.
