The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed the Nigerian Senate to immediately reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, declaring her suspension as legally unfounded and excessive.
Delivering the ruling on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako held that the six-month suspension imposed on the senator by the Senate lacked constitutional backing and effectively denied her constituents the right to representation.
She described the suspension as disproportionate, noting that it was nearly equal to the entire legislative calendar of 181 sitting days.
“Suspending a lawmaker for 180 days amounts to denying an entire senatorial district of representation, which contradicts the principles of democracy,” Justice Nyako stated.
While affirming that legislative bodies have the constitutional authority to discipline their members, she stressed that such disciplinary actions must be proportionate and must not disenfranchise voters.
The judge went further to invalidate certain legislative provisions used to justify the suspension. Specifically, she struck down parts of Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, labelling them as “overreaching” and lacking clarity regarding the permissible duration of suspensions for elected officials.
The court further dismissed arguments presented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who claimed the judiciary had no jurisdiction to intervene in the matter.
The judge maintained that the case was not merely an internal affair of the Senate, as it directly impacted the constitutional rights of both the senator and her constituents.
“This case involves more than procedural legislative matters—it involves the fundamental rights of the voters and their elected representative,” Justice Nyako asserted.
Additionally, the court ruled on a related matter earlier that same day, finding Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt.
This stemmed from a satirical apology she posted on her Facebook page on April 7, which was seen as a violation of an earlier court order restraining her from making public statements on the issue.
Justice Nyako held that the Facebook post mocked the authority of the court and constituted a breach of judicial directives.
As a consequence, the court imposed a fine of ₦5 million on the senator and ordered her to publish a formal apology in two widely circulated national newspapers as well as on her Facebook page within seven days.
However, the judge dismissed allegations that Senate President Akpabio erred by denying Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan the right to speak during a plenary session, noting that she was not seated in her designated position at the time of the incident.
With this ruling, the court not only reaffirmed the limits of legislative power but also underscored the judiciary’s role in protecting democratic principles and the rights of Nigerian citizens to fair and adequate representation.