A Federal High Court in Abuja has found Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt over a post she made on Facebook in April.
Justice Binta Nyako gave the ruling on Friday during the hearing of a case filed by the senator to challenge her suspension from the Senate.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio had filed a contempt application against Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying her social media post on April 27 disobeyed a court order. The order had barred all parties from speaking to the press or making social media posts related to the suspension case.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer told the court that the post was not about the suspension case but was instead connected to a separate matter involving allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.
Justice Nyako disagreed, saying the post was linked to the suspension matter before the court. She then found the senator guilty of contempt.
The judge ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish an apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days. She also fined her N5 million.
