The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the suspension of the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, ruling that the Senate acted within the ambit of its constitutional and procedural powers.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel of justices, the appellate court held that the suspension did not violate the senator’s parliamentary privilege or infringe on her constitutional rights.
However, the court set aside the contempt proceedings and the ₦5 million fine earlier imposed on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in connection with a satirical apology she directed at the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Abba Muhammed ruled that the Senate President acted lawfully in denying the Kogi Central senator the opportunity to speak during plenary on February 20, 2025, as she was not seated in the officially allocated seat assigned to her.
The court held that, under the Senate Rules, the Senate President is vested with the authority to allocate seats to lawmakers, stressing that members are only permitted to speak from seats duly assigned to them during plenary sessions.
More details later…
