Natasha Akpoti Appeals N5m Contempt Fine Judgement In Favour Of Akpabio

Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken her case to the Court of Appeal to challenge a N5 million fine imposed on her by a Federal High Court.

The fine was issued to Natasha Akpoti over a Facebook post she made against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, while a court case was still ongoing.

The appeal follows a recent judgment by Justice Binta Nyako, who found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of civil contempt.

The judge said the senator’s satirical Facebook post was inappropriate and could influence an ongoing court matter.

Justice Nyako ruled that even though the contempt was civil, not criminal, the post still disrespected the court.

She fined Natasha N5 million and ordered her to issue a public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within a week.

However, the judge did not impose a jail sentence, saying the offence didn’t call for imprisonment.

In her appeal, which was filed on July 9 through her lead lawyer, Roland Otaru (SAN), Natasha Akpoti is asking the appellate court to overturn the decision.

The senator, who argued that the ruling was wrong, listed six main reasons why the judgment should be overturned.

Natasha Akpoti claimed the judge made a legal mistake by punishing her for a Facebook post that had nothing to do with the case before the court at the time.

She also argued that her right to a fair trial was violated because the judge used the wrong legal process when handling the contempt charge, failing to follow the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act.

One of her arguments is that the post in question focused on sexual harassment, while the case in court was about her suspension from the Senate, meaning the post wasn’t directly connected to the matter at hand.

She further claimed that being ordered to publish an apology and pay a fine was too harsh and had no solid legal basis.

The senator also argued that a fine in a contempt case is essentially a criminal punishment, which shouldn’t be handed down in a civil matter without following criminal procedures.

She said the judge didn’t have the legal authority to impose such a penalty without meeting the standard of proof required in criminal cases.

In her final point, the lawmaker said the N5 million fine was too severe for what she was accused of.

Natasha is asking the Court of Appeal to cancel the lower court’s ruling, declare that the trial court had no right to handle contempt that took place outside its courtroom, and confirm that criminal-level punishment can’t be imposed in a civil case without due process.

KanyiDaily recalls that the court also ruled that the Senate must recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended for six months.