Facebook post: Senator Natasha was considered guilty of contempt, fined N5m

On Friday, the High Federal Court of Abuja found the central senator of Kogi suspended, Natasha Akpoti-Auduaghan, guilty of contempt for a Facebook satirical post published on April 27.

Judge Binta Nyako held the sentence in a case presented by Akpoti-Auduaghan who challenge his suspension from the Senate.

Before dealing with the substantial case, the Court took into consideration a request for contempt presented by the president of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, where he claimed that Senator Akpoti-Auduaghan violated a previous order of the court that prohibited all parties to comment publicly or on social media on current legal proceedings.

The Akpoti-Unduaghan legal team claimed that the place was not related to the case of suspension and instead referred to a separate question that involved accusations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, which is listed as a third interviewed in the case.

However, judge Nyako believed that, after examining both the place and the application, it was satisfied that the content was connected to the case of suspension and constituted a violation of the Court directive.

The Court subsequently considered Akpoti-Auduaghan guilty of contempt and ordered her to publish excuses written in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days.

A fine of ₦ 5 million was also set on the central senator of Kogi suspended for the mail.