Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the immediate recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, who was suspended by the Senate for six months.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nyako described the suspension as excessive and unconstitutional, faulting both the Senate Standing Rules and provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act for failing to define the limits of legislative disciplinary actions.
The judge held that while the Senate has the authority to sanction erring members, such disciplinary measures must not infringe on the rights of constituents to be duly represented. She pointed out that Nigerian lawmakers are constitutionally required to sit for 181 days in a legislative calendar, and a six-month suspension effectively excludes a senator for almost the entire period.
“The punishment was disproportionate and denied the people of Kogi Central effective representation in the Senate,” Justice Nyako stated.
The court also declared Section 14 of the Legislative Powers Act and Chapter 8 of the Senate Rules to be overreaching in the absence of a clearly defined suspension limit.
While affirming Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, was within his rights to deny Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan the floor during plenary—because she was not seated in her designated position—the court directed her to tender a formal apology to the Senate within seven days and publish it in two national newspapers.
However, the court also imposed a ₦5 million fine on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for violating an earlier court order that barred all parties from making public comments on the case.
Meanwhile, the senator is also facing two separate legal cases in Abuja, including one on cybercrime and another on defamation.
Her suspension by the Senate on March 6, 2025, followed a heated fallout with Senate President Akpabio, after she accused him of sexual harassment and abuse of office, stemming from a dispute over her seat placement during plenary on February 20. Akpabio has since denied the allegations.
The Senate, led by Akpabio, referred her to its disciplinary committee. On March 5, the committee dismissed her petition, declaring it “dead on arrival” due to procedural flaws. However, the senator refiled the complaint the very next day.
The clash between the two lawmakers is not new. In July 2024, Akpabio had issued a public apology to Akpoti-Uduaghan over a controversial “nightclub” remark made during plenary—further underscoring the tension between them.
The legal and political feud between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership continues to attract national attention, as the court’s ruling raises questions about legislative discipline, due process, and the limits of internal parliamentary affairs.
