The Federal High Court in Abuja has found Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt, on grounds of the satirical apology letter posted on her social media page, after the court had ordered parties to desist from taking the matters already in court to the media.
Justice Binta Nyako also fined Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, Five million Naira and asked to her to publish an apology letter in two national dailies and also on her Facebook page within 7 days.
While delivering judgment on Friday, the trial judge also urged the Senate to recall her, while affirming the power of the Senate to discipline any member for unethical conduct.
Justice Nyako held that the Senate President is empowered to allocate seats to members and such a member is only allowed to speak from the seat allocated to him or her, noting that since Natasha was not speaking from the sit allocated to her during the Senate’s sitting of February 20, she was not entitled to be heard
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The judge held that although the Senate could suspend its members, it should reconsider the period of such suspension, stating that recalling her will afford her the opportunity to represent her constituency and for her to also apologise to the Senate.
The court had made an order on April 4 restraining parties from commenting on the subject of the pending suit, however on April 27, Senator Natasha posted a satirical letter on her Facebook, thereby violating order of the court.
More details later …
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
