A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has upheld the power of the Nigerian Senate to discipline its members for unethical conduct, even as it convicted Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for contempt of court.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako ruled that under the Senate Rules, the Senate President has the authority to assign seats to lawmakers, and a senator is only permitted to speak from their designated seat. The judge held that Senator Natasha violated this rule during the Senate’s plenary on February 20 and was therefore not entitled to be heard.
While affirming the Senate’s right to suspend its members, Justice Nyako advised the Red Chamber to reconsider the duration of Senator Natasha’s suspension. She also urged the Senate to consider recalling the senator to allow her resume representation of her constituency, on the condition that she tender a formal apology to the Senate.
In addition, Justice Nyako found Senator Natasha guilty of contempt of court for violating an earlier restraining order made on April 4, which barred parties from commenting on the subject of the ongoing suit. The court held that the senator’s satirical Facebook post of April 27 breached that order.
As a consequence, the court imposed a N5 million fine on the senator, payable to the coffers of the Federal Government. She is also required to publish a public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days.
The court, however, noted that since the contempt was civil in nature, Senator Natasha would not face imprisonment.
