Court Orders Senate to Reinstate Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Senate to reinstate Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, declaring her six-month suspension excessive and unconstitutional.

In her ruling, Justice Nyako said the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act were overreaching and failed to set a clear limit on suspensions.

She emphasized that lawmakers sit for only 181 days in a legislative year, and a six-month suspension would effectively c+t off a senator’s ability to represent their constituents for nearly the entire session.

The court ruled that while the Senate has the authority to discipline its members, such punishment must not infringe on the rights of the electorate. It also rejected Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s argument that the court had no jurisdiction, affirming its power to review constitutional v+olation

However, the judge upheld Akpabio’s action in denying Akpoti-Uduaghan a chance to speak on the Senate floor, noting she wasn’t in her designated seat at the time. The court directed her to apologize to the Senate and ordered her to publish a public apology in two national newspapers within seven days.

Additionally, Akpoti-Uduaghan was fined ₦5 million for contempt, after breaching a court order by making public comments about the case.

She is also currently facing two separate cases of cybercrime and d+famation in Abuja courts.

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