Natasha Akpoti’s Senate suspension remains unresolved as she fails to return despite court ruling; Senate awaits certified order, apology still pending
The controversy over Natasha Akpoti’s Senate suspension intensified on Tuesday after the embattled senator failed to return to plenary, despite a court ruling voiding her suspension.
Also read: Natasha Akpoti Senate Suspension Sparks Bold Defiance against Injustice
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, remained absent from Tuesday’s Senate session, despite a Federal High Court decision last Friday declaring her six-month suspension unconstitutional, excessive, and an infringement on her constituents’ right to representation.
Justice Binta Nyako, who delivered the judgment in Abuja, had ordered her immediate reinstatement and imposed a ₦5 million fine for civil contempt, arising from a satirical Facebook post she made while the case was pending.
The court also directed her to publish a real apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days.
Though Akpoti-Uduaghan had, in a viral video, told supporters she would return to the Senate on Tuesday, her absence stirred speculation.
Tightened security at the National Assembly compound raised eyebrows, as checks on vehicles and staff were intensified. Many questioned whether the Senate leadership was attempting to forestall her re-entry.
A widely circulated letter, purportedly from Senate legal counsel Paul Daudu, allegedly warned Akpoti-Uduaghan not to resume pending the release of the enrolled court order. However, Daudu distanced himself from the document.
“Please ignore the purported open letter written to J.S. Okutepa (SAN). It is unsigned and not issued by me. I do not know the source of that letter,” he stated, adding that the reference to his law firm was misleading and that Okutepa was his mentor in the legal profession.
Despite public pressure, the Senate maintained that it would not take further action until it receives the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, expected by Wednesday.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension followed a tense March plenary in which she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
The amendments we are seeking aim to clarify and strengthen disciplinary provisions, especially with respect to the duration of sanctions imposed on erring members.
The outburst prompted disciplinary action, which she later contested in court, describing the sanction as politically motivated.
While the court sided with her on the suspension’s legality—citing Section 21(2) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, which limits suspensions to 14 legislative days—it held her in contempt for the Facebook post dated April 27, which mocked the Senate process.
The judge’s ruling now places Akpoti-Uduaghan in a difficult position. Her reinstatement hinges not only on formal Senate recognition of the ruling, but also on her compliance with the court’s apology directive, which by Tuesday night had yet to be fulfilled.
In a related development, the Senate has fast-tracked a bill aimed at addressing ambiguities in its disciplinary processes.
The “Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” sponsored by Senator Kaka Shehu (APC, Borno Central), passed first reading on Tuesday and is scheduled for second reading on Wednesday.
According to Kaka, the legislation seeks to clarify punitive timelines and remove the discretion that allows ad hoc sanctions without legal basis.
“The amendments we are seeking aim to clarify and strengthen disciplinary provisions, especially with respect to the duration of sanctions imposed on erring members,” he said.
If passed, the bill would provide a clearer legal framework for punishing misconduct, ensuring due process while avoiding prolonged suspensions that disenfranchise constituents.
Also read: Senate Discipline Amendment Bill Passes First Reading After Akpoti’s Suspension Ruling
The coming days are expected to be decisive. With the CTC of the court judgment anticipated by Wednesday and Senate plenary still ongoing, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s fate—and the broader implications for legislative discipline—will soon be tested.
