Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan appeals ₦5m contempt fine over Facebook post

Summary

• Senator challenges contempt ruling, citing lack of jurisdiction and breach of fair hearing
• Court had fined her ₦5 million and ordered public apology over satirical Facebook post
• Appeal also questions judicial overreach and excessive penalty

Abuja, Nigeria – Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has filed an appeal against a Federal High Court ruling that found her guilty of contempt and ordered her to pay a ₦5 million fine alongside a public apology over a Facebook post deemed to have violated a gag order.

The ruling, delivered on 4 July 2025 by Justice Binta Nyako, held that a satirical post made by Akpoti-Uduaghan on 27 April 2025 breached a court directive barring public commentary on an ongoing defamation case involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

In addition to the fine, the court mandated that the senator publish formal apologies in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days.

However, Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her counsel Roland Otaru, lodged a six-point appeal on 9 July 2025 before the Court of Appeal in Abuja, challenging the legality of the contempt conviction.

At the heart of the appeal is a jurisdictional challenge, with the senator arguing that the alleged contempt occurred ex facie curiae (outside the courtroom), and therefore required separate criminal proceedings under the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act. She contends that the trial court erred in summarily convicting her without a formal trial, thus breaching her constitutional right to a fair hearing.

The appeal further argues that the Facebook post in question was not connected to the defamation case, but rather a satirical reference to her prior sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio. As such, her legal team maintains that the post did not breach the gag order.

Akpoti-Uduaghan also accuses the trial court of judicial overreach, stating that the ₦5 million fine and public apology were not sought by the third respondent and thus exceeded the scope of reliefs requested. The senator’s team has described the fine as excessive and punitive, especially as it followed an allegedly improper criminal process.

In addition, the appeal seeks to overturn the order for public apologies, calling it unwarranted due to the procedural flaws in the contempt proceedings.

This legal challenge comes amid broader controversies surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate in March 2025 over alleged misconduct, a decision the same court overturned in its July ruling, describing the suspension as unconstitutional and disproportionate.

The senator’s legal battles have sparked widespread debate, with some women’s rights groups viewing her as a victim of political retribution for speaking out, while others, including the Coalition of Concerned Women for Legislative Integrity, have criticised her actions as disruptive and urged the Senate to appeal her reinstatement.

As of 12 July 2025, no date has been set for the hearing of the appeal. The outcome could have significant implications for judicial authority, free speech on social media, and the handling of disciplinary actions within the Nigerian legislature.