The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday ordered the Nigerian Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the six months suspension handed her for gross misconduct.
Justice Binta Nyako described the duration of the suspension as unduly excessive as it deprives the people of Kogi Central of valid representation. The judge, therefore, advised the Senate to review their rules on sanctions.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had sued the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Neda Imasuen, who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
However, the Judge found the Senator guilty of contempt of court over her Facebook post, noting that the embattled lawmaker went against its order by publishing a satirical apology to the Senator President, Godswill Akpabio.
It held that the said apology which she published on her Facebook page on April 7, made a mockery of a gag order that was placed on the parties by the court
Consequently, the court ordered Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to within seven days, publish an apology to it in two national dailies and also on her Facebook page.
The court equally ordered her to pay N5 million fine, stressing that her contempt was in a civil proceeding.
Even though the court decision followed a contempt action that was initiated by Senator Akpabio, the court declined to issue any order in his favour.
