Court Orders Reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Declares Six-Month Suspension “Excessive”

Nigeria’s Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Senate to immediately reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended for six months over a controversy that included allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In a landmark judgment that has rekindled national debates around legislative overreach and gender dynamics in politics, Justice Binta Nyako, who delivered the ruling, declared the suspension “excessive” and a violation of the rights of the people of Kogi Central, whom Akpoti-Uduaghan represents.

According to the judge, the Senate’s actions infringed upon the principle of representation, as lawmakers are only required to sit for 181 days in a legislative year – meaning the suspension effectively shut out the senator’s constituents for nearly the entire session.

“The suspension is overreaching and not supported by any clear limitation in the law,” Justice Nyako stated, faulting both Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

The court held that these legal instruments failed to define the maximum duration for suspending an elected lawmaker, thereby opening the door to abuse.

While affirming the Senate’s constitutional authority to discipline its members, Justice Nyako stressed that such measures must be proportional and should not disenfranchise the electorate.

The court, however, dismissed the senator’s claim that she was unjustly denied the right to speak during a plenary session on 20 February.

Justice Nyako ruled that Senate President Akpabio acted within his powers when he refused to recognise Akpoti-Uduaghan, as she was not seated in her designated spot at the time.

Notably, the court rejected Akpabio’s argument that the matter was an internal legislative affair outside judicial review. The court affirmed its jurisdiction, reinforcing that disciplinary actions taken by the legislature, especially those affecting public representation, are subject to judicial scrutiny.

Despite the legal victory, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was not entirely absolved. The court fined her N5 million for disobeying an earlier order restraining all parties from speaking publicly about the case. She was also ordered to publish an apology in two national newspapers within seven days.

The legal tussle followed a contentious incident on the Senate floor and subsequent referral of Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate Committee on Ethics.

In a televised interview on 28 February, the senator alleged that her ordeal began after she rejected inappropriate advances from the Senate President, a claim that stirred public outrage and widespread calls for accountability in the National Assembly.

Following her referral to the Ethics Committee and subsequent suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan approached the court through an ex-parte motion, urging that all actions taken by the committee – including her suspension – be declared null and void pending the determination of her case.

This court ruling marks a significant development in a case that has riveted the nation and raised serious questions about gender equity, abuse of power, and the scope of legislative authority.

Observers now await the Senate’s next move and whether it will comply promptly with the court’s directive to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.