Joshua uti
Court convicts Senator Natasha of contempt, slaps her with ₦5m fine
In a recent ruling, Justice Binta Nyako rebuked embattled lawmaker Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for defying a court directive by posting what was described as a satirical apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Facebook.
The court determined that the post, published on April 7, ridiculed the gag order previously imposed on all parties involved in the matter.
As a result, the court directed Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to issue a formal apology within seven days, to be published in two national newspapers as well as on her Facebook page.
The court also imposed a ₦5 million fine on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, emphasizing that her contemptuous act occurred within the context of a civil proceeding.
Although the ruling stemmed from a contempt charge brought forward by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the court refrained from granting any specific relief in his favour.
In a related development, the court has moved forward with delivering judgment in the case filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, challenging the six-month suspension imposed on her by the Senate.
More details to follow.