By Deborah Nnamdi
The Federal High Court in Abuja has found Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central and is currently suspended, guilty of contempt of court.
Delivering the ruling on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako stated that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan violated a court directive by posting a satirical apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on her Facebook page on April 7. The court described the post as a deliberate mockery of an existing gag order restraining the involved parties from public commentary.
As a result, the court ordered the senator to issue a formal apology within seven days, to be published in two national newspapers as well as on her Facebook page. Additionally, she was fined N5 million for civil contempt.
Although the contempt proceedings were initiated by Senator Akpabio, the court declined to grant any direct relief in his favour.
In a related development, the court proceeded to deliver judgment on the suit filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan challenging her six-month suspension by the Senate.
