Court finds Sen. Natasha Akpoti guilty of contempt, orders apology, fine

A Federal High Court in Abuja has found the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, guilty of contempt of court.

The verdict was delivered by Justice Binta Nyako on Friday, following claims that the senator disobeyed a previous court order by posting a satirical apology directed at the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

According to the court, the apology, which appeared on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Facebook page on April 7, openly mocked a gag order earlier imposed on all parties involved in the matter. As punishment, Justice Nyako directed the embattled lawmaker to issue a formal apology to the court in two national newspapers as well as on her Facebook page within seven days.

The court also ordered the senator to pay a ₦5 million fine for civil contempt. Although the contempt charge was filed by Senate President Akpabio, the court did not make any personal order in his favour.

In a related matter, the court is also preparing to rule on the suit filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan challenging her six-month suspension from the Senate.

More details shortly.