N5m contempt fine: Natasha Akpoti appeals judgement, says trial court lacks jurisdiction

Natasha

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, has appealed part of a judgement by a federal high court in Abuja, which found her guilty of contempt.

In a notice of appeal dated July 9, Akpoti-Uduaghan is seeking to overturn the contempt conviction and the N5 million fine imposed by Justice Binta Nyako.

The appeal, filed by Roland Otaru, her counsel, also asked the appellate court to nullify the public apology order issued against her.Nyako had, in a July 4 ruling, found the senator guilty of disobeying a court order barring parties from discussing the case in the media.

She ordered the senator to publish an apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days and pay a fine of N5 million.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, argued that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain a contempt proceeding relating to an alleged offence committed ex facie curiae — outside the courtroom.

“The trial court lacked the requisite jurisdiction to entertain an alleged contempt ex facie curiae involving the imposition of fine which is criminal in nature, against her own orders without compliance with the proper criminal procedure and provision contained in the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act,” the senator said in her appeal.

The appeal, hinged on six grounds, claimed that Nyako erred in law by assuming jurisdiction and summarily finding her guilty of contempt without following due criminal process. Thecable