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Senator insists trial judge lacked authority to impose fine
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Contempt charge linked to social media post on Akpabio
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Appeals court asked to overturn ruling, declare post non-contemptuous
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed an appeal seeking to overturn the N5 million fine imposed on her by the Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged contempt of court over a Facebook post.
In a notice of appeal obtained on Friday, the Kogi Central lawmaker is asking the Court of Appeal to quash Justice Binta Nyako’s July 4 judgment, arguing that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to punish her for an act committed outside the courtroom.
Justice Nyako had found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt for a social media comment deemed to have violated a court order restraining parties from making public statements about her suspension case.
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The court ordered her to pay N5 million and issue a public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page.
“Jurisdiction Was Lacking”
In her six grounds of appeal, Akpoti-Uduaghan contends that contempt allegedly committed ex facie curiae — outside the presence of the court — must be prosecuted through regular criminal trial procedures before another judge. She insists the failure to follow this process amounted to a miscarriage of justice.
Her lawyers argued that the judge erred by adjudging her guilty without issuing the statutory Forms 48 and 49 required under the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act. They described the punishment as “excessive and punitive” for what they claim was a satirical apology unrelated to the ongoing suit.
Akpabio’s Role in Contempt Application
The contempt proceedings were initiated by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Facebook post breached the court’s gag order.
But the senator maintains the post concerned sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio and not her suspension case pending before the court.
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Appeal Reliefs Sought
In her appeal, she is asking the Court of Appeal to:
Set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling.
Declare that her satirical Facebook post does not amount to contempt of court.
Quash the N5 million fine and associated punitive orders.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also accused the trial judge of imposing punitive reliefs not sought in Akpabio’s original application, describing the move as judicial overreach.
The Court of Appeal is yet to fix a date for hearing the matter.
