Court orders Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, declares six-month suspension excessive

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the immediate recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, declaring her six-month suspension by the Senate as excessive and unlawful.

In a judgment delivered on Friday by Justice Binta Nyako, the court criticized the legislative action, noting that it deprived the senator’s constituents of their right to representation for an extended period.

The court emphasized that while the Senate has the authority to discipline its members, such punitive measures must not overreach or violate constitutional guarantees.

Justice Nyako described the six-month suspension as disproportionate, stating that it effectively stripped the people of Kogi Central of their voice in the National Assembly for nearly the entire constitutionally mandated 181 sitting days in a legislative year.

READ ALSO: Court finds Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt, orders apology, N5m fine

The court further invalidated the relevant provisions used to justify the suspension—namely, Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act. It ruled that those provisions were vague and overreaching, as they failed to define the maximum duration for which a lawmaker can be suspended.

“Though the Senate is empowered to discipline its members, such discipline must be within reasonable bounds and not serve to disenfranchise voters who duly elected their representative,” Justice Nyako ruled.

However, the court upheld the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio’s decision to deny Akpoti-Uduaghan the opportunity to speak during plenary, noting that she was not seated at her designated position at the time.

The court also dismissed Akpabio’s claim that it lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case on grounds that it involved internal parliamentary affairs. Justice Nyako asserted that the court is empowered to intervene when the constitutional rights of a citizen are at stake.

Meanwhile, in a separate ruling earlier in the day, the court found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt for violating a gag order by publishing a satirical apology to the Senate President on Facebook. The court imposed a ₦5 million fine and directed her to publish a formal apology in two national newspapers within seven days.