In a significant ruling, a federal high court has ordered the Senate to immediately recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, while simultaneously fining her Five Million Naira (N5,000,000) for a publication made on her Facebook account.
The judgment, delivered today by Justice Binta N., marks a complex outcome for the Kogi Central Senator. The recall order to the Senate is expected to pave the way for her reinstatement as a legislator, though the specific grounds for her initial removal or suspension were not detailed in the available information.
However, the accompanying N5 million fine against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan stems directly from a social media post. While the content of the Facebook publication was not specified in the ruling, the court’s decision to penalize her indicates that the post was deemed to be in contempt of court or to have violated a court order or public decency standards.
This dual ruling shows the judiciary’s role in both upholding the rights of elected officials and ensuring accountability for their public statements, particularly on social media platforms.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan or the Senate regarding their next steps following the court’s order. The ruling is likely to generate considerable discussion on the boundaries of free speech for public figures and the powers of the judiciary in Nigeria.
