Court Fines Senator Natasha ₦5m for Contempt Over Facebook Post

A Federal High Court in Abuja has imposed a ₦5 million fine on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for contempt of court, citing her satirical Facebook post directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Justice Binta Nyako ruled that the post, published on April 27, 2025, violated an earlier court order which barred parties from making public comments on the ongoing suspension case involving the senator.

The court dismissed claims by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team that the post was unrelated to the court case and instead addressed separate sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio. Justice Nyako held that the content and timing of the post were in defiance of judicial instructions and undermined the integrity of the court’s proceedings.

In addition to the fine, Senator Natasha was ordered to tender a written apology on her Facebook page and in two national dailies within seven days. The contempt ruling adds to her ongoing legal battles, which include a separate defamation case scheduled for trial in September 2025.