Natasha Appeals ₦5m Contempt Nice Over Fb Publish

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a proper enchantment in opposition to the ₦5 million contempt ruling delivered by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal Excessive Courtroom, Abuja, on July 4, 2025, describing the judgment as procedurally flawed and indicative of judicial bias.

The Discover of Appeal, lodged on the Courtroom of Appeal in Abuja, challenges all the contempt proceedings initiated in opposition to Senator Natasha following a satirical Fb publish directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The publish, which allegedly breached a previous court docket order restraining public commentary on the case, was interpreted by the court docket as contemptuous.

Within the enchantment filed by her authorized staff, led by Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) together with Michael Jonathan Numa, Prof Roland Otaru, J.S. Okutepa, E. West Idahosa, and J.J. Usman, the Appellant argues that the contempt was dedicated ex facie curiae (exterior the court docket’s face) and subsequently required strict compliance with felony procedures.

In accordance with them, the trial choose lacked the jurisdiction to summarily convict and positive her with out issuing the obligatory Varieties 48 and 49 as required beneath the Sheriffs and Civil Course of Act.

“The correct authorized process for prosecuting contempt dedicated exterior court docket premises was not adopted,” the enchantment states. “The trial court docket substituted the reliefs sought by the third Respondent with its personal punitive orders, together with a ₦5 million positive and public apologies in two nationwide newspapers and on social media.”

The enchantment additionally alleges judicial bias, mentioning that related public commentaries by different senior attorneys concerned within the case, together with Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Monday Ubani (SAN), went unpunished regardless of repeated media appearances through which they allegedly made prejudicial feedback in regards to the ongoing case.

“Justice should be blind and truthful. Selective software of contempt proceedings undermines public confidence within the judiciary,” one of many grounds of enchantment reads.”

Six core grounds kind the premise of the enchantment: “Lack of jurisdiction over ex facie curiae contempt, Breach of truthful listening to as a consequence of procedural lapses, together with failure to serve Varieties 48 & 49, Mischaracterization of the Appellant’s Fb apology as contempt, Imposition of felony sanction (positive) with out correct course of, Substitution of reliefs by the choose past what was requested, Excessiveness and punitive nature of the positive.”

Senator Natasha is in search of to have the contempt ruling overturned completely. Particularly, the enchantment asks the Courtroom of Appeal to declare all the proceedings null and void, quash the ₦5 million positive, and assert that the satirical publish in query didn’t violate any lawful court docket order.

The enchantment lists the next as respondents:”The Clerk of the Nationwide Meeting, The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.”

Authorized illustration for the Respondents contains distinguished regulation companies comparable to Afe Babalola & Co., Ojukwu Chikaosolu & Co., and Seasons Legislation Agency.

The Courtroom of Appeal is anticipated to assign a date for listening to following the formal submitting and repair of the enchantment paperwork.

Senator Natasha’s authorized staff has indicated they might file further grounds as soon as the Licensed True Copy of the unique judgment is launched.

“This improvement marks a big escalation within the ongoing authorized and political drama involving the embattled senator, elevating broader considerations over legislative oversight, judicial impartiality, and free speech in politically delicate circumstances.”