The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the immediate reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, suspended by the Nigerian Senate for six months.
Delivering the ruling on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako described the suspension as excessive and lacking legal justification. She declared portions of Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act invalid, stating they failed to set a clear limit on the suspension of lawmakers.
“Suspending a senator for six months, nearly the equivalent of 180 sitting days, effectively denies constituents representation,” the judge noted.
While affirming the Senate’s right to discipline members, the court stressed that any sanctions must not strip citizens of their constitutional right to representation.
The court dismissed claims that Senate President Godswill Akpabio acted improperly by denying Akpoti-Uduaghan the right to speak during plenary, as she was not seated in her designated spot at the time.
It also rejected Akpabio’s argument that the court lacked jurisdiction, ruling that the suspension affected the constitutional rights of both the senator and her constituents, making it justiciable.
“This is not simply an internal Senate matter. It concerns the rights of voters and their elected representative,” Justice Nyako said.
In a related decision, the court found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt for breaching a prior gag order by posting a satirical apology to the Senate President on Facebook. She was ordered to publish a formal apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days, and was fined N5 million.
