The Nigerian Senate has said it cannot yet reinstate suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan until it reviews the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court ruling concerning her case with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate on March 6, 2025, for six months following allegations of sexual harassment she made against Senate President Akpabio. The decision was based on the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen (APC-Edo South).
Her suspension came with the withdrawal of her salary, security details, and access to the National Assembly premises.
She challenged the suspension in court, and last week, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered her immediate reinstatement. However, the court also found her in contempt and imposed a N5 million fine.
Senator Adaramodu explained that while the Senate respects the court’s ruling, it has requested the CTC of the judgment and will review its content before taking further action.
“We have applied for the CTC since Monday. Once we receive and study the document, we will comply with the court’s directive. But the Senate must first sit to examine its content before making a decision,” he stated.
He criticized public commentary on the issue, suggesting many Nigerians lack an understanding of legislative processes. “Some people are reacting out of ignorance, expecting the National Assembly to operate without rules, which would lead to chaos,” he said.
Adaramodu emphasized that the Senate has constitutional powers to make and enforce its own rules, including reprimanding members who breach them. He noted that the court itself acknowledged these powers in its ruling.
On the duration of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, he clarified that the 180-day term includes non-parliamentary days and that the Senate has the discretion to determine the length of such disciplinary actions.
“Anyone who is not a legislator may not fully understand how the legislature operates,” Adaramodu added.
