Akpoti-Uduaghan Appeals N5m Contempt Ruling Over Facebook Post

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge a judgment by the Federal High Court which fined her N5 million for contempt over a Facebook post deemed satirical.

The notice of appeal, dated 9 July 2025, was filed by her lead counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Roland Otaru. In it, the senator raised six grounds of appeal, arguing that the decision of the Federal High Court was not only flawed in law but also amounted to a breach of her fundamental human rights, particularly her right to freedom of expression.

The contempt ruling was delivered last week by Justice Binta Nyako, who held that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s satirical post was prejudicial to an ongoing case and amounted to civil contempt of court.

The judge described the post as disrespectful to the court’s authority and ruled that it was capable of influencing public perception while judicial proceedings were still underway.

However, Akpoti-Uduaghan is insisting that the post in question was a harmless expression of opinion and not an attempt to interfere with the court process. She believes the verdict sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of speech, particularly for elected public officials engaging with constituents online.

Her legal team is asking the appellate court to overturn the decision in its entirety, arguing that the lower court misdirected itself in law and failed to properly weigh the constitutional protections afforded to citizens under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The case has since generated public debate on the boundaries between freedom of expression and the powers of the judiciary, especially in the digital age where social media is increasingly used as a platform for public discourse.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has expressed confidence in the judiciary and hopes that the appeal court will restore what she describes as a balance between justice and free speech.