Court Orders Senate To Recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Over Unconstitutional Suspension

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled in a landmark decision that the Senate must recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The court described the Senate’s six-month suspension of the senator as “excessive” and unconstitutional.

Justice Binta Nyako, who delivered the judgment, stated that the punishment meted out to Akpoti-Uduaghan violated the provisions of Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, both of which failed to define a limit for the duration of suspension.

According to the court, since the National Assembly is constitutionally required to sit for 181 days in a legislative calendar, suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months effectively denies her constituents representation for nearly the entire session. The judgment emphasized that while the Senate has the authority to discipline its members, such punishment must not be excessive or infringe on the democratic rights of citizens.

The ruling that the court orders Senate to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan comes amid rising scrutiny over legislative overreach and internal disciplinary actions in Nigeria’s upper chamber.

However, the court held that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was not at fault for denying Akpoti-Uduaghan the chance to speak during plenary, as she was not seated in her officially assigned position at the time. The court also dismissed Akpabio’s claim that the matter was an internal affair of the Senate and thus outside judicial jurisdiction.

While the court orders Senate to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, it also upheld an earlier ruling against her for contempt of court. Akpoti-Uduaghan was fined ₦5 million and ordered to publish a public apology in two national newspapers for breaching a court order that restricted public commentary on the ongoing case.

This latest decision reaffirms judicial oversight over legislative conduct and solidifies the precedent that the court can order the Senate to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan or any elected official when constitutional rights are violated.