The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, ordered that the Senate should immediately reinstate Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, for her legislative duties, describing her six-month suspension as “excessive.”
Justice Binta Nyako, in a judgment, also awarded a fine of N5 million against the Akpoti-Uduaghan for her “Satirical Apology” message which she posted on her Facebook page on April 27 in disobedience of the valid order of the court.
Justice Nyako, therefore, ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to tender an unreserved apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days of the order before she can purge herself of the contemptuous act against the court.
The lawmaker had, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 and filed on March 3, dragged the clerk of the National Assembly and the Senate; the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to court.
Equally joined in the suit seeking court order to stop them from sanctioning her over her alleged misconduct was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Public Petitions and Privileges, Sen. Neda Imas
Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Nyako described as “excessive”, the six-month suspension the Senate slammed on her on March 6 following her clash with Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The judge faulted the provision of Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules as well as section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers and Privileges Act, and declared both as overreaching.
“The two legislations fail to specify the maximum period that a serving lawmaker could be suspended from office.
“Since lawmakers have a total of 181 days to sit in every legislative circle, the six-month suspension handed to her was akin to pushing her away from her responsibilities to her constituents for about 180 days.
“Although the Senate has the power to punish any of its members who err, such sanction must not be excessive to deprive the constituents of their right to be represented,” Nyako held.
Nyako, nevertheless, held that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was not wrong to have denied the plaintiff, who was not on the official seat that was allotted to her, the opportunity to speak during plenary.
The judge dismissed Akpabio’s contention that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit which he said bordered on an internal affair of the Senate.