The Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld the Senate’s decision to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, dismissing a lawsuit that sought to challenge the legality of the disciplinary action.

The suit, filed by Ovavu Illiyasu and nine others, questioned the authority of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the upper chamber to suspend the Kogi Central lawmaker for alleged misconduct. However, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the legal right to file the case, noting that they were not directly affected by the Senate’s internal decision.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/654/2025, the claimants argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension deprived their senatorial district of representation and urged the court to nullify it. But the judge dismissed the case, emphasizing that legislative disciplinary matters are largely internal and beyond the jurisdiction of external parties.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had been suspended on March 6, 2025, for allegedly breaching Senate standing rules. Her office was sealed for six months before being reopened on September 23, marking her official return to the National Assembly.

Upon her resumption, the senator was welcomed by a crowd of supporters who accompanied her from the FCT High Court, where she had attended a separate defamation case involving Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello.

Although the Senate is currently on recess, her reinstatement effectively ends the suspension period. The case remains under further legal consideration as Akpoti-Uduaghan’s earlier challenge to the suspension continues at the Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile, Senate officials maintain that the suspension was necessary to uphold discipline and protect the integrity of the legislative body.