Battle For Justice: Natasha Heads To Court To Reverse ₦5m Fine Over Facebook Bombshell

The appeal, filed on July 9 through her lead counsel, Roland Otaru (SAN), follows Justice Binta Nyako’s ruling which found her guilty of civil contempt. The judge had described her post as “disrespectful” and “prejudicial” to the court’s proceedings.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The controversial post, deemed satirical in tone by the court, was published amid a legal battle surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension from the Senate.

Although the court refrained from issuing a custodial sentence, it held that the senator’s actions amounted to civil contempt. She was ordered to pay ₦5 million to the Federal Government and publish an apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days.

Interestingly, despite sanctioning her for contempt, Justice Nyako also ruled in her favour on the substantive matter — declaring her suspension from the Senate as illegal. The judge emphasized that suspending a senator for six months deprives constituents of representation for an entire legislative session, and accordingly directed the Senate to reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Appeal Contests Fine and Contempt Ruling

In her appeal, Akpoti-Uduaghan challenges both the validity and the fairness of the contempt conviction. A central argument is that her Facebook post, which focused on sexual harassment, had no direct connection to the case concerning her suspension — rendering the contempt ruling misplaced and disproportionate.

She also argues that the court erred by imposing what amounts to a criminal penalty (a fine) in a civil contempt case without adhering to standard criminal procedures, including the requirement of proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Further, the senator claims the judgment violated her right to a fair hearing and failed to comply with provisions of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, which governs contempt proceedings.

In her notice of appeal, Akpoti-Uduaghan contends that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to try contempt ex facie curiae (outside the court’s immediate presence) and had no legal basis to impose a fine payable to the federal treasury in a civil matter. She also described the ₦5 million sanction as “excessive and punitive.”

The senator is urging the Court of Appeal to:

• Set aside Justice Nyako’s ruling,

• Declare the contempt proceedings unlawful,

• Affirm that such cases require criminal procedure, and

• Dismiss the ₦5 million fine in its entirety.