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Politics

Court Orders Reinstatement of Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Justice Nyako imposed a ₦5 million fine on the senator for breaching the court order.

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has announced her return to the Senate on Tuesday, following a Federal High Court judgment declaring her six-month suspension as unconstitutional and a violation of her constituents’ rights.

In a video that began trending on social media on Sunday, the Kogi Central senator thanked her supporters for standing by her during the legal battle.

“I thank you for your support. I am glad we are victorious today. We shall resume in the Senate on Tuesday by the grace of God,” she stated.

Justice Binta Nyako, who presided over the case in Abuja, ruled on Friday that the suspension imposed by the Senate in March 2025 lacked constitutional backing and was procedurally flawed.

The court affirmed that long suspensions without due process undermine democratic governance and deprive constituents of their constitutional right to representation, especially as lawmakers are required to attend at least 181 sitting days in a legislative year.

However, the court also found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt for a Facebook post interpreted as a satirical apology directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The post violated a March 4 interim injunction that barred parties from making public statements on the case.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended following a rowdy plenary session and further controversy ensued after she accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment during a live TV interview—a charge he has denied.

In her ruling, Justice Nyako also called on the National Assembly to review its disciplinary procedures to align with constitutional principles and ensure fair hearing for lawmakers facing sanctions.

Victoria Emeto
the authorVictoria Emeto
A bright and self-driven graduate trainee at AV1 News, she brings fresh energy and curiosity to her role. With a strong academic background in Mass Communication, she has a solid foundation in storytelling, audience engagement, and media ethics. Her passion lies in the evolving media landscape, particularly how emerging technologies are reshaping content creation and distribution. She is already carving a niche for herself as a skilled journalist, honing her reporting, writing, and research abilities through hands-on experience. She actively explores the intersection of digital innovation and traditional journalism.

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