By Anthony Ochela, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja has found the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, guilty of contempt and fined her N5 million.
Justice Binta Nyanko, in a ruling on Friday, found Natasha to have violated an order of the court made on April 4 restraining parties from commenting on the subject of the pending suit and asked her to pay the sum into the coffers of the Federal Government.
Justice Nyanko held that by posting a satirical letter on her Facebook page on April 27 while the April 4 order subsisted, Natasha was in contempt of court.
Justice Nyanko said since Natasha is found guilty of contempt in a civil case she would not be sent to prison but made to pay a fine and make public apology to the court.
The judge, therefore, ordered Sen. Natasha to pay N5m to the coffers of the Federal Government and publish public apology in two national dailies and her Facebook page within seven days.
Senator Natasha had just on Monday, pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge of defamation instituted against her by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar.
Justice Umar granted Sen. Natasha bail in self recognizance following a motion moved by her team of legal counsel led by Prof. Roland Muktar, SAN, which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, M. B. Abubakar.
The charges were based on comments allegedly made by the Senator, which the government claimed were damaging to the reputations of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
