The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Nigerian Senate unlawful and unconstitutional, ordering her immediate reinstatement and directing the Senate to review its disciplinary procedures.
Delivering the judgment on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako ruled that the six-month suspension imposed on the senator amounted to a denial of representation for her constituents in Kogi Central. The court described the suspension as “unduly excessive” and called for a comprehensive overhaul of the Senate’s internal rules to ensure fairness and adherence to democratic principles.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March during a closed-door session after she publicly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—a claim that sparked tension within the Senate. She was later cited for gross misconduct and alleged insubordination for refusing to take a new seat assigned to her on February 20, 2025.
Justice Nyako ruled that the suspension violated Section 14(2) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, which guarantees constituents the right to representation in legislative bodies.
In addition to ordering her recall, the judge emphasised that suspensions must not be used to silence dissenting voices or circumvent constitutional rights.
However, in a separate ruling delivered the same day, the court found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court over a satirical Facebook post she made on April 27, 2025. The post was deemed a violation of the court’s April 4 order, which barred all parties from making public statements about the case.
Justice Nyako imposed a ₦5 million fine on the senator and ordered her to publish a formal apology in two national newspapers within seven days, and on her Facebook page within two days.
The contempt charge was initiated by Senate President Akpabio, who argued that the Facebook post breached the court’s order. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team claimed the post was unrelated to the suspension case and referred to separate allegations, but the court disagreed, ruling that the content was directly connected to the case before it.
This ruling is separate from an ongoing cybercrime case involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, in which she has been granted bail.
The case had originally been slated for judgment on June 27 but was postponed to July 4.
