A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has affirmed the Senate’s power to discipline any member for unethical conduct.
Justice Binta Nyako, in a judgment on Friday, held that under the Senate Rules, the Senate President is empowered to allocate seats for members and such a member is only allowed to speak from the seat allocated to him or her.
Justice Nyako found that since Natasha was not speaking from the seat allocated to her during the Senate’s sitting of February 20, she was not entitled to be heard.
The judge held that although the Senate could suspend its members, it should reconsider the period of such suspension.
She urged the Senate to consider recalling her to allow her to represent her constituency and for her to also apologise to the Senate.
Earlier, Justice Nyako found her guilty of contempt and fined her N5 million to be paid to the coffers of the Federal Government.
The judge found Natasha to have violated a court order made on April 4, which restrained the parties from commenting on the subject of the pending suit.
The judge held that by posting a satirical letter on her Facebook page on April 27, while the April 4 order was still in effect, Natasha was in contempt of court.
The judge stated that since Natasha was found guilty of contempt in a civil case, thereby making it a civil contempt, she would not be sent to prison but would be required to pay a fine and offer a public apology to the court.
Justice Nyanko ordered Natasha to pay N5 million to the Federal Government’s coffers and publish a public apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days.
