Court Orders Recall of Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Enet
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended. The court’s decision was announced July 4, by Justice Binta Nyako. She described the six-month suspension imposed on her in March as excessive. This suspension followed a disagreement between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
During her ruling, Justice Nyako criticized Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules and section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act. She called both laws overbroad and too vague. The court pointed out that neither law sets a maximum limit for how long a senator can be suspended.
The judge explained that since senators only sit for 181 days each session, a six-month suspension effectively bars a senator from serving for about 180 days. She emphasized that while the Senate can discipline members for misconduct, it must not go so far as to deny constituents their right to representation.
The court also clarified that it was not wrong for Akpabio to refuse Akpoti-Uduaghan’s chance to speak during a plenary session. The Senate President was within his rights to deny her the use of her official seat while suspended.
Justice Nyako dismissed Akpabio’s claim that the court lacked jurisdiction in this matter. He argued that the case involved an internal Senate affair, but the court found otherwise. It ruled that the suspension was unjustified and ordered her reinstatement.
