Court finds Senator Natasha guilty of contempt; Directs Senate to recall the lawmaker

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday found the senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, guilty of contempt over a satirical apology she posted on her Facebook page on April 27, 2025.

Justice Binta Nyako, while delivering judgment in the suit filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan challenging her suspension, began with the contempt application filed by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

Akpabio, in his application, challenged the senator’s post on social media, arguing it violated an earlier court order restraining all parties from commenting to the press or making social media posts related to the case.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel argued that the post was not connected to the court’s order concerning her suspension but rather referred to a separate issue involving sexual harassment allegations against the third respondent (Akpabio).

However, Justice Nyako held that after reviewing the post and the application before her instituted by the third respondent, she was satisfied that it was linked to the suspension matter before the court and therefore found the plaintiff guilty of contempt.

The judge ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish an apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days. She also imposed a fine of N5 million.

Delivering judgment on the suspension by the Senate, Justice Nyako ordered the Senate to recall the suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan describing as excessive the six-month suspension that was imposed on the lawmaker by the upper chamber of the national assembly.

The judge faulted the provision of Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules as well as Section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act, declaring both as overreaching.

The court also held that President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio was not wrong to have denied Senator Natasha, who was not in the official seat that was allotted to her, the opportunity to speak during plenary. The court asked her to apologise to the Senate.

Justice Nyako added that the two legislations failed to specify the maximum period that a serving lawmaker could be suspended from office.

According to the court, since lawmakers have a total of 181 days to sit in every legislative cycle, the six-month suspension handed to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was the same as pushing her away from her responsibilities to her constituents for about 180 days.

It held that though the Senate has the power to punish any of its members who err, such sanction must not be excessive to deprive the constituents of their right to be represented.