…Fines Her N5m For Cyber Bullying
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has on Friday ordered the Senate to reinstate a suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, even as it slams her N5 million fine over cyber bullying.
Recall that Natasha was on the 6th of March suspended for six months by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions over gross misconduct.
Her suspension was borne out of her challenge against the Senate leadership over sitting arrangement.
There is also her sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and subsequent assassination allegation against the former Akwa-Ibom State Governor with former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, included.
While the sexual allegations scandal lingered on, the Federal Government, on behalf of Akpabio and Yahaya Bello, sued Natasha over alleged defamation.
Justice Nyako, however, in her judgment delivered over Natasha’s suspension, described the duration of the suspension as unduly excessive.
The judge held that it deprives the people of Kogi Central of valid representation, and advised the Senate to review their rules on sanctions.
The Federal High Court Judge, however, found Natasha guilty of contempt of Court for her satirical apology to the Senate on her Facebook page on April 27, 2025.
The Kogi lawmaker was fined the sum of N5million while also being ordered to publish on two national dailies a public apology within seven days and on her Facebook page within two days.
Justice Nyako held that the action of the Kogi Central Senator was against an order of the Court made on April 4 stopping parties in the case from making press statements concerning the ongoing case.
Meanwhile, the judgement is a distinct case from the cybercrime charges recently brought against the Kogi lawmaker, for which she was granted bail.