The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has found Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, guilty of contempt of court for a satirical post she made on her Facebook page on April 27, 2025.
Justice Binta Nyako, who delivered the ruling on Friday, upheld an application filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who argued that the social media post violated an earlier court directive. The order in question had restrained all parties involved in the ongoing suit—centering on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension—from making public comments or social media statements related to the case.
Akpabio, the third respondent in the matter, had brought the contempt application forward, urging the court to penalize the senator for allegedly flouting the court’s order. The application was heard alongside the senator’s main suit challenging her suspension from the Senate.
Justice Nyako, after reviewing the application and the content of the post, held that it was linked to the matter before the court and ruled that the senator was guilty of contempt.
As a consequence, the judge ordered Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish a written apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days. Additionally, the court imposed a monetary penalty of N5 million.
Even though the court decision followed a contempt action that was initiated by Senator Akpabio, the court declined to issue any order in his favour.
