A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the six-month suspension handed to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was excessive and unconstitutional, stating it denied the people of Kogi Central their right to representation.
Newsonspot gathered that delivering the verdict on Friday, July 5, Justice Binta Nyako criticised the Nigerian Senate for overstepping its disciplinary powers, highlighting that the Senate’s Standing Rules and the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act lack clear limits on suspension duration.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 over alleged gross misconduct after a heated exchange with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Tensions rose when she accused Akpabio of retaliating against her for rejecting alleged sexual advances – a claim he denied.
While the court acknowledged the Senate’s right to discipline its members, it maintained that such powers must not infringe on citizens’ rights to be represented in the legislature.
However, the court found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt over a satirical Facebook apology posted on April 27. Justice Nyako ordered her to publish a formal apology in two national newspapers and on Facebook within seven days and fined her ₦5 million.
Despite the ruling against the suspension, the Senate has stated it will not reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan until she complies fully with the court’s directive. Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu insisted that the court did not issue a binding reinstatement order and reiterated that the Senate would assess the apology’s content before deciding on the next step.
The Senate’s legal counsel, Paul Dauda (SAN), described the judgment as a partial win for the upper chamber, affirming its disciplinary powers and confirming the contempt ruling against the senator.
Meanwhile, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is also facing fresh legal troubles. She was recently arraigned on new charges filed by the federal government and granted bail by the same Federal High Court.
