In a dramatic legal twist, the Federal High Court in Abuja has found Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court, handing down a ₦5 million fine and ordering her to issue public apologies in two national newspapers and on social media.
Justice Binta Nyako, delivering the ruling on Friday, held that the Kogi Central senator violated a court order by posting a satirical apology on her Facebook page on April 27, 2025, directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The court’s decision came during proceedings in a broader suit filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan, challenging her suspension from the Senate.
However, before addressing the main suit, Justice Nyako ruled on a contempt application brought by Akpabio, who argued that the senator’s post breached an existing gag order barring all parties from making public or social media comments on the case.
Despite the defense team’s insistence that the Facebook post referred to unrelated sexual harassment allegations involving Akpabio and had no bearing on the suspension case, Justice Nyako disagreed.
“Having carefully reviewed the post in question and the application by the third respondent, the court is satisfied that the statement relates directly to the subject matter before the court,” the judge ruled.
The court found the satirical tone of the Facebook post to be a willful flouting of its earlier directive, affirming that public commentary, even under the guise of satire, could not be tolerated while litigation is ongoing.
In addition to the fine, Justice Nyako ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to publicly apologize—both on her Facebook page and in two national newspapers—within seven days. Failure to comply could result in further legal consequences.
The case highlights the growing tension between freedom of expression and the sanctity of court processes. Legal analysts comparing the case to similar judgments across other Commonwealth jurisdictions note that contempt for gag orders—especially on social media—has increasingly resulted in sanctions and fines.
Unlike some Western courts, where satire may be afforded broader leeway under free speech protections, Nigerian courts have taken a stricter stance on maintaining decorum in active cases.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters have described the ruling as politically motivated, while allies of Akpabio hailed it as a victory for judicial order and respect for court processes.
This ruling adds a new layer to the ongoing political friction within the National Assembly, especially as Akpoti-Uduaghan continues to contest the legality of her suspension. With this contempt conviction now on record, her legal and political battles may face even more scrutiny in the coming weeks.
