The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, found the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, guilty of contempt.
The court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, noted that the embattled lawmaker went against its order by publishing a satirical apology to the Senate 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 a five-million-naira fine, stressing that her contempt was in a civil proceeding.
Though the court decision followed a contempt action that was initiated by Senator Akpabio, the court declined to issue any order in his favour.
Meanwhile, Justice Nyako ordered the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing as excessive the six-month suspension that was imposed on her by the Senate.
The judge faulted the provision in Chapter Eight of the Senate Standing Rules, as well as Section Fourteen of the Legislative Houses, Powers and Privileges Act, declaring both to be overreaching.
