The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday found the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, guilty of contempt.
According to the ruling delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, the senator breached a previous court order by issuing a satirical apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on her Facebook page on April 7.
The court ruled that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions mocked a prior gag order on both parties, prompting the court to order her to issue a formal apology within seven days, to be published in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page.
In addition, she was ordered to pay a fine of N5 million for being in civil contempt.
The court declined to provide direct relief to Senator Akpabio despite his filing of the contempt charge.
The ruling came before a judgment in a related lawsuit filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is challenging the Senate’s decision to suspend her for six months.
