Daniel Otera
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has found suspended Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, guilty of contempt over a satirical apology she published online in defiance of a court order.
Delivering the ruling on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako held that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan violated the court’s directive by mocking a previous gag order through a Facebook post she made on April 7, in which she issued an insincere apology to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Justice Nyako stated that the Facebook post constituted a clear act of contempt, as it ridiculed the authority of the court and disrespected its standing instruction for parties involved to refrain from making public comments.
“The content of the said apology was satirical and intended to undermine the court’s order. Such conduct is unacceptable,” Justice Nyako ruled.
As a consequence, the court directed Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish a formal apology to the court in two national newspapers and also republish it on her Facebook page. The order must be complied with within seven days.
The court further imposed a fine of ₦5 million on the senator, noting that her act of contempt occurred within a civil proceeding.
Although the contempt proceedings were initiated by Senator Akpabio, the court declined to grant any additional reliefs in his favour.
Meanwhile, Justice Nyako has proceeded to deliver judgment on the substantive suit filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, challenging the six-month suspension imposed on her by the Senate.
Details soon.