Court Overrules Senate, Orders Akpabio and Lawmakers to Reinstate Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan After Unlawful Suspension

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Justice Binta Fatima Nyako, on Friday invalidated the suspension imposed on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi State. The court ruled that the suspension was unconstitutional and consequently ordered her immediate reinstatement to the Senate.

The ruling arose after Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had approached the court, contesting the legality of her six-month suspension by the upper chamber. Delivering her judgment, Justice Nyako highlighted that even though the National Assembly retains the legal authority to sanction or discipline its members for misconduct, such punitive actions must not go so far as to strip constituents of their right to fair representation.

Justice Nyako emphasized that the six-month suspension violated constitutional safeguards and amounted to an excessive sanction. She pointed out that the disciplinary measure surpassed the 180-day legislative sitting period permitted for a House, thereby effectively silencing the voice of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents for too long.

While nullifying the suspension and directing the Senate to restore the senator’s membership without further delay, the court, however, found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in contempt of court. As a result, Justice Nyako imposed a fine of five million naira against her. Additionally, the senator was ordered to publicly apologize to the court. According to the judgment, this apology must be published in two widely circulated national newspapers and also shared publicly on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Facebook page.

By this decision, the Federal High Court has underscored the balance between a legislative body’s power to discipline its members and the constitutional guarantee that citizens must have continuous representation through their elected lawmakers. The judgment has drawn public attention to the limits of legislative sanctions while reaffirming judicial oversight in preserving democratic rights.