The Nigerian Senate has outlined the conditions under which it will reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), who was suspended in March.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, stated that the Red Chamber will not immediately recall Akpoti-Uduaghan until she apologizes as directed by a recent Federal High Court ruling.
Senator Adaramodu emphasized that the court’s judgment does not override the Senate’s constitutional powers to discipline its members.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension in March stemmed from alleged gross misconduct following a public disagreement with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over sitting arrangements.
Tensions escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused Akpabio of punishing her for rejecting alleged sexual advances, an allegation Akpabio has denied. She subsequently submitted a petition to the Senate claiming sexual harassment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged her suspension in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025. Delivering her judgment, Justice Nyako found issues with Chapter Eight of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act, deeming them “overreaching” for failing to specify a maximum suspension period for lawmakers.
While acknowledging the Senate’s authority to discipline members, Justice Nyako stressed that such actions must not deprive citizens of representation in the National Assembly.
She highlighted that a 180-day suspension, given the Senate’s constitutional requirement to sit for only 181 days a year, effectively denied the people of Kogi Central representation.
“The court is not saying that the Senate lacks the power to sanction a member. However, such sanctions must not negate the constitutional right of constituents to be represented in parliament,” Justice Nyako ruled.
However, the court also found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court due to a satirical apology she posted on her Facebook page on April 27.
Justice Nyako ruled that the post was linked to the ongoing case and ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish a proper apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days, in addition to paying a N5 million fine.
Senator Adaramodu clarified the Senate’s position: “The court has not ousted the Senate’s statutory right to punish any erring senator. It was established that the senator in question erred.
“The court has already told her to go and do some things, like restitution, so after the restitution, the Senate will now sit again and consider the content of that restitution, and that will inform our next line of action.”
He further stated that the Senate would only reconvene to deliberate on the matter once Akpoti-Uduaghan complies with the court’s directives.
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“The onus is no more on us now; it is already on her doorstep to go and apologise. Once she does that, then the Senate will sit and determine how to deal with her matter.”
Paul Dauda, SAN, counsel to the Senate, described the ruling as a “partial victory” for the Senate, particularly regarding the civil contempt finding.
He noted that the court ruled in the Senate’s favor concerning the social media posts made during the case, ordering the satirical apology to be removed and a proper apology published, along with the N5 million damages to be paid to the court.
On the substantive issue of the suspension, Dauda confirmed that the court affirmed the Senate’s right to discipline its members. He clarified that the court did not order Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement but merely made an “obiter dictum,” a non-binding remark, suggesting the suspension might have been excessive.
“There was no relief asking for the suspension to be lifted… We will consult with our colleagues, read the full judgment, and respond accordingly,” he added.
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