Senate Defies Court Ruling, Demands Apology from Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Before Reinstatement
Standoff Continues as Senate Insists on Conditions Despite Court Order
The Nigerian Senate has laid down strict conditions for the reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, despite a Federal High Court ruling that nullified her six-month suspension. The development comes nearly 24 hours after Justice Binta Nyako declared the suspension excessive and ordered the lawmaker’s immediate return to the Red Chamber.
Senate Spokesman Outlines Requirements
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the Senate’s spokesman, stated that the legislative body would not automatically comply with the court’s reinstatement order. He emphasized that while the Senate respects the judiciary, the court judgment does not override the Senate’s constitutional powers to discipline its members.
“The court has not ousted the Senate’s statutory right to punish any erring senator,” Adaramodu declared. “It was established that the senator in question erred. The court has already told her to go and do some things, like restitution.”
The Controversial Suspension
The political drama began in March when the People’s Democratic Party senator from Kogi Central was suspended for alleged gross misconduct following a heated confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements. The situation escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused Akpabio of punishing her for rejecting alleged sexual advances – a claim the Senate President denied but which was never formally investigated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged her suspension in court through suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, leading to Friday’s landmark judgment.
Court’s Groundbreaking Ruling
Justice Nyako’s ruling made several significant pronouncements:
- Declared Chapter Eight of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act as overreaching
- Noted these provisions failed to specify maximum suspension periods for lawmakers
- Affirmed the Senate’s disciplinary powers but stressed they must not deny constituents representation
- Highlighted that a 180-day suspension effectively denied Kogi Central representation given the Senate’s 181-day annual sitting requirement
“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.
Mixed Verdict for Akpoti-Uduaghan
While the judgment favored the senator regarding her suspension, it found her guilty of contempt for a satirical apology posted on Facebook on April 27. The court ordered her to:
- Publish apologies in two national newspapers
- Post an apology on her Facebook page
- Pay a N5 million fine
All these requirements must be fulfilled within seven days of the judgment.
Senate’s Next Steps
Adaramodu made it clear that the Senate would only consider reinstating Akpoti-Uduaghan after she fully complies with the court’s directives:
“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.”
He added that the Senate would reconvene to deliberate on the matter only after reviewing the content of her compliance with the court order.
Constitutional Implications
This standoff raises important questions about the separation of powers between the legislative and judicial branches of government. Legal experts are divided on whether the Senate’s conditions constitute defiance of a court order or a legitimate exercise of parliamentary privilege.
The situation also highlights the delicate balance between legislative discipline and constituent representation – a tension the court explicitly addressed in its ruling.
As the political drama unfolds, all eyes remain on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to see whether she will comply with the court’s requirements and how the Senate will ultimately respond.
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