By Erewunmi Peace

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has found Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, guilty of contempt of court and has imposed a fine of ₦5 million.

Justice Binta Nyako delivered the ruling on Friday, stating that the Senator violated an earlier court order by publishing a satirical post on her verified Facebook page on April 7, 2025, in which she mocked a directive restricting her from commenting on an ongoing case involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The post, which was perceived as a “mock apology,” triggered the contempt proceedings.

“The actions of the defendant show clear disregard for the court’s authority,” Justice Nyako ruled. “Contempt of court must not be trivialized by those in public office.”

The Judgment

Fine: ₦5,000,000

Apology: Senator Natasha must publish a formal written apology in two national newspapers and repost the same on her Facebook page within 7 days.

Type of Contempt: Civil contempt

Background

The contempt charge arose in connection with an ongoing defamation and interference suit filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who accused the Senator of making prejudicial comments about him on social media.

Despite an earlier gag order issued by the court, Senator Natasha published what many considered a sarcastic or satirical apology. The court deemed this act a breach of its ruling, hence the civil contempt judgment.

What’s Next?

The Senator’s legal team has yet to announce if she will appeal the ruling or comply immediately with the directives. The ruling, however, underscores the judiciary’s stance on maintaining the dignity and authority of the court—even in matters involving high-ranking political figures.