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By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
In a dramatic turn of legal events on Thursday, July 4, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for contempt of court and imposed a ₦5 million fine alongside a mandatory public apology. But in a separate ruling on the same day, another court ordered her immediate reinstatement to the Nigerian Senate, declaring her earlier suspension as unconstitutional and excessive.
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court found the senator guilty of contempt for defying a judicial gag order. The violation stemmed from a sarcastic Facebook post made on April 27, 2025, which the court said mocked its authority and breached a prior order prohibiting public commentary on an ongoing case involving the senator.
Delivering her verdict, Justice Nyako ruled that the senator’s actions constituted “a deliberate provocation and mockery of the judicial process.” She ordered Senator Natasha to:
- Pay a ₦5 million fine to the Federal Government within seven days.
- Issue a sincere public apology to be published in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within the same time frame.
However, in a significant legal victory for Senator Natasha, a separate Federal High Court in Abuja also ruled on Thursday that her six-month suspension from the Senate was unconstitutional. The court held that her suspension—following sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio—was a violation of her constituents’ rights to representation and lacked any legal foundation under the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
Justice Nyako described the Senate’s disciplinary action as “excessive, disproportionate, and a breach of democratic principles,” and ordered the Senate leadership to immediately reinstate her.
While the reinstatement order is being celebrated by her supporters as a restoration of justice, the contempt conviction casts a complex shadow over Senator Natasha’s political and legal battles. As of press time, her legal team has not indicated whether they will appeal the contempt ruling, but insiders suggest that options are being considered.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has become one of the most talked-about figures in Nigerian politics this year—both for her fierce independence and her confrontations with institutional power. Thursday’s twin rulings may have deepened that reputation, setting off fresh debates about judicial authority, legislative overreach, and freedom of speech in Nigeria’s democracy.
Newspot Nigeria will continue to follow this developing story and provide verified updates as they unfold.
