Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has announced her return to the Senate on Tuesday, following a Federal High Court ruling that declared her six-month suspension unconstitutional and excessive.
In a video shared on social media—now widely circulated—Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed gratitude to her supporters, celebrating what she described as a legal victory.
“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 said.
The court ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice Binta Nyako in Abuja, described the Senate’s action as a violation of the constitutional rights of the people of Kogi Central to legislative representation. Justice Nyako held that the suspension lacked constitutional backing and ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan’s immediate reinstatement.
However, the court also found the senator in contempt for a satirical Facebook post styled as an “apology” to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The post, according to the court, breached an interim injunction issued on March 4, 2025, which barred public commentary on the ongoing case. As a result, the court imposed a ₦5 million fine on the lawmaker.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate in March following a chaotic plenary session marked by disagreements over seating arrangements. The controversy escalated days later when she accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment during a live television interview.
Justice Nyako, in her judgment, emphasised that the prolonged suspension was procedurally flawed and undermined democratic principles. She noted that lawmakers are constitutionally required to attend at least 181 sitting days in a legislative year, and warned that indefinite suspensions without due process amount to a denial of citizens’ rights to representation.
The judge also criticised the Senate’s disciplinary processes, urging the National Assembly to revise its internal rules to align with constitutional standards and ensure fair hearing in future proceedings.
