Court Orders Senate to Recall Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
…rules six-month suspension unconstitutional, but fines her for contempt
Abuja, Nigeria – In a landmark judgment, Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the six-month suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, declaring it a violation of the Constitution.
Delivering her verdict on Friday, Justice Nyako ordered the Senate to immediately recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that the lengthy suspension not only breached constitutional provisions but also denied the people of Kogi Central adequate representation in the National Assembly.
While affirming the Senate’s authority to discipline its members, the judge cautioned that such sanctions must not be excessive. “The suspension was disproportionate and exceeded the constitutional limits, especially as it ran beyond the 180 days the house is expected to sit in a year,” she ruled.
However, in a twist, the court found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt and fined her ₦5 million. She has also been ordered to publish a public apology in two national newspapers.
The judgement has sparked fresh conversations around legislative discipline and citizens’ rights to representation in Nigeria’s democratic process.