The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, affirmed the right of the Nigerian Senate to suspend and discipline any erring senators.
The court held that though the Senate has the power to punish any of its members who err, such a sanction must not be excessive to deprive the constituents of their right to be represented.
The court also held that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was not wrong to have denied the plaintiff, who was not in the official seat that was allotted to her, the opportunity to speak during plenary.
Court Finds Natasha Guilty Of Contempt
The court also found Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, guilty of contempt over a satirical apology she posted on her Facebook page on April 27.
Justice Binta Nyako, while delivering judgment in the suit filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan challenging her suspension, began with the contempt application filed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Akpabio, in his application, challenged the senator’s post on social media, arguing it violated an earlier court order restraining all parties from commenting to the press or making social media posts related to the case.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel argued that the post was not connected to the court’s order concerning her suspension but instead referred to a separate issue involving sexual harassment allegations against the third respondent (Akpabio).
However, Justice Nyako held that after reviewing the post and the application before her instituted by the third respondent, she was satisfied that it was linked to the suspension matter before the court and, therefore, found the plaintiff guilty of contempt.
The judge ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish an apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days. She also imposed a fine of N5 million.
