The Federal High Court in Abuja has slammed a ₦5 million fine on suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for contempt of court and ordered her to issue a public apology to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the court within seven days.
Presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, delivered the ruling on Friday in the suit filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan challenging her referral to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, and her subsequent suspension from the upper chamber.
The court upheld the application filed by the 3rd defendant, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who argued that the senator’s Facebook post of April 27, 2025, constituted a violation of a restraining order issued on April 4, 2025, which barred all parties from making public comments on the matter.
Justice Nyako described the Facebook post, which was a satirical “apology,” as a deliberate affront to the court and the Senate. She ruled the publication to be contemptuous and an attempt to ridicule both the judicial process and the office of the Senate President.
In addition to the fine, the court directed Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish a public apology in two national newspapers and on the same Facebook page where the offending post was made.
On the substantive issues, the court ruled entirely against the Plaintiff, affirming that:
- The Senate has constitutional powers to discipline its members in accordance with its Standing Orders.
- The Senate President acted within his authority when he reassigned Senator Natasha’s seat on February 20, 2025.
- Senators are only permitted to speak from seats officially assigned to them, and Akpoti-Uduaghan violated Section 6(2) of the Senate Standing Rules by attempting to address the plenary from an unassigned seat.
- Her referral to the Senate Committee on Ethics was valid and procedurally correct.
The court’s decision reaffirms the autonomy of the legislature to regulate its internal affairs and enforces respect for judicial orders, marking a significant development in the jurisprudence of legislative discipline and digital conduct by public officials.
