The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the N5 million fine and apology order earlier imposed on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Federal High Court, ruling that the contempt proceedings against her were procedurally defective and legally void.
The appellate Court also upheld the powers of the Senate to discipline its members, ruling that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension did not breach her parliamentary privileges or constitutional rights.
While delivering Judgment on Monday, a three-member panel of Justices unanimously court held that the mandatory processes for instituting contempt actions were not followed, particularly the failure to properly serve Forms 48 and 49 on the Kogi Central lawmaker as required by law.
The court ruled that the defective service rendered the entire contempt proceedings incompetent ab initio, thereby resolving the issues in favour of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Consequently, the N5 million fine and the order directing her to issue a public apology were vacated and set aside.
(Editor: Utibe Umoren)
