Court upholds Senate’s disciplinary powers, convicts Natasha for contempt

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has upheld the constitutional authority of the Nigerian Senate to sanction its members for misconduct, while also convicting Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for contempt of court.N8

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako ruled that the Senate, in line with its internal rules, has the power to discipline members who act unethically. The judge emphasized that the Senate President has the right to assign seats to members, and any senator must speak only from their designated seat. She noted that since Senator Natasha spoke from a seat not assigned to her during the February 20 plenary session, her contributions were procedurally invalid.

While affirming the Senate’s right to suspend erring members, Justice Nyako advised that the suspension’s duration should be reconsidered. She further recommended that the Senate recall Senator Natasha to allow her to fulfill her mandate to her constituents and urged her to tender an apology to the Senate.

In a separate ruling, Justice Nyako found Senator Natasha guilty of contempt for violating a court order issued on April 4, which barred all parties from making public statements on the pending matter. The court held that her satirical Facebook post published on April 27 contravened the order and constituted civil contempt.

As a consequence, Senator Natasha was fined ₦5 million, payable to the Federal Government. The court also ordered her to publish a public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days. However, since the offense was classified as civil contempt, the judge ruled out imprisonment.