Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Fined ₦5 Million for Contempt of Court

Abuja, FCT – The Federal High Court in Abuja has on Friday, July 4, 2025, declared Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, guilty of contempt of court. The ruling, delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, stems from a satirical apology the Senator posted on her Facebook page on April 27, 2025.

The contempt proceedings were initiated by an application filed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. Senator Akpabio argued that the social media post by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan violated a previous court order that had explicitly prohibited all parties involved in her ongoing suit challenging her suspension from making comments to the press or posting on social media regarding the case.

Counsel for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan contended that the Facebook post was unrelated to the court order concerning her suspension, asserting that it pertained to separate allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Akpabio. However, Justice Nyako, after reviewing the content of the post and the contempt application, concluded that the material was indeed linked to the substantive suspension matter before the court.

Consequently, Justice Nyako found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in contempt of court. As a penalty, the court has ordered Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish an apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days. Additionally, a fine of ₦5 million was imposed on the Senator.

This development follows Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan's appearance before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, June 30, 2025, for a separate second arraignment. That particular proceeding involves allegations of defamation brought against her by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.