Court finds Senator Natasha guilty of contempt, fines her N5m

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, found suspended Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt on Friday, July 3.

In a ruling delivered this morning, the court held that the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, went against its order by publishing a satirical apology to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

On April 7, Akpoti-Uduaghan had shared a satirical apology on her social media handles. The court held that the post made a mockery of a gag order that was placed on the parties by the court

Consequently, the court ordered Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish an apology in two national dailies and also on her Facebook page within seven days. 

The court equally ordered her to pay N5 million fine, stressing that her contempt was in a civil proceeding.

Even though the court decision followed a contempt action that was initiated by Senator Akpabio, the court declined to issue any order in his favour.