Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central senatorial district, has lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, challenging a Federal High Court ruling by Justice Binta Nyako.
The ruling found her guilty of contempt of court and imposed a N5 million fine.
The senator is seeking to overturn the entire judgment delivered on July 4, 2025, arguing that it was legally flawed, procedurally defective, and resulted in a miscarriage of justice.
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The contempt dispute originated from a motion filed by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen.
This motion concerned a satirical Facebook post made by Akpoti-Uduaghan on April 27, 2025, in which she referenced allegations of sexual harassment, claiming they were unrelated to the substantive legal matter.
Despite her assertion, the trial court interpreted her post as a violation of an earlier restraining order issued on April 4, 2025, which prohibited public comments on the ongoing case.
Consequently, Justice Nyako found the senator guilty of contempt ex facie curiae (contempt committed outside the court’s immediate presence) and ordered her to publish a public apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page, in addition to the fine.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her legal team, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria Prof. Roland Otaru, J.S. Okutepa, Dr. E. West Idahosa, J.J. Usman, and M.J. Numa, argued that the trial judge lacked the jurisdiction to summarily try and punish alleged contempt committed outside the court, especially without adhering to the procedures outlined in the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act.
Her lawyers contend that such contempt, being criminal in nature, necessitated a separate trial before a different judge and required proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
They also highlighted the absence of statutory forms—Forms 48 and 49—which are mandatory prerequisites for contempt proceedings under Nigerian law.
The senator’s legal team further argued that the trial court exceeded its bounds by imposing a N5 million fine, a relief not initially requested by the third respondent in the contempt motion.
They consider this an instance of the judge substituting her own reliefs for those of a party, thereby descending into the arena of conflict and violating the senator’s right to a fair hearing.
They emphasized that no part of the original application sought a monetary sanction and described the N5 million fine as excessive and punitive, particularly given the senator’s denial of any intent to disobey the court.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal seeks a declaration that the entire contempt proceedings and sanctions are null and void.
She also asks the appellate court to affirm that her Facebook post did not amount to contempt, to rule that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to punish her in the manner it did, and to reverse all punitive orders.
The appeal, marked CA/A/2025, FHC /CS/384/2025, is linked to the original suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025) at the Federal High Court, where Akpoti-Uduaghan is challenging her referral to the Senate Committee and subsequent suspension.
The respondents listed in the appeal include the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuen.
A hearing date for the appeal has not yet been set.
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