Akpabio: Court of Appeal nullifies Natasha’s contempt conviction
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, on Monday vacated the contempt conviction against the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over the publication of a satirical apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The court also vacated the N5 million fine awarded against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In another ruling, the appellate court held that the Senate acted within its powers when it suspended the senator for misconduct.
In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of justices, the appellate court said it was satisfied that neither the appellant’s parliamentary privilege nor her constitutional rights were breached as a result of her suspension from the Senate.
Moreover, the appellate court, in its lead verdict delivered by Justice A. B. Muhammed, held that the Senate President was not wrong to have denied the appellant—who was not on the official seat allotted to her during plenary on February 20, 2025—the opportunity to speak.
It held that the Senate President is empowered by the rules to allocate seats to members, adding that lawmakers are only allowed to speak from seats allocated to them.
