The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday found the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, guilty of contempt.
Justice Binta Nyako, who delivered the ruling, stated that the senator violated a previous court directive by issuing what was described as a satirical apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which she shared via her Facebook page on April 7.
According to the court, her action ridiculed a gag order previously imposed on both parties in the case.
In response, the court directed Akpoti-Uduaghan to issue a formal apology within seven days, to be published in two national newspapers as well as on her Facebook page.
Additionally, she was fined N5 million for civil contempt.
While the contempt charge was filed by Senator Akpabio, the court declined to grant any relief directly in his favour.
The ruling came ahead of a judgment in a related lawsuit filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan, in which she is challenging the Senate’s decision to suspend her for six months.
