In a major legal victory for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the Nigerian Senate exceeded its constitutional powers by suspending her for six months. Justice Binta Nyako, who delivered the judgment on Friday, ordered her immediate recall to the Senate, describing the suspension as excessive and legally baseless.

The court found that Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Orders, which the Senate relied upon, do not specify any maximum duration for suspensions. Therefore, the court concluded that the Senate acted beyond its constitutional authority.

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Justice Nyako emphasized that suspending a lawmaker for nearly 181 legislative days—which equals the total required sitting days in a year—effectively denies constituents their democratic right to representation.

• “While the Senate has the authority to discipline its members, such sanctions must not go so far as to silence an entire constituency,” she ruled.

Senate President Akpabio’s Actions Also Reviewed

The court also reviewed the conduct of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stating that his refusal to allow Akpoti-Uduaghan to speak—due to her not sitting in her designated chair—did not amount to a violation of her rights.

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Akpabio had argued that the judiciary had no jurisdiction over legislative internal affairs, but Justice Nyako dismissed this claim, affirming that matters involving fundamental rights and elected representation fall squarely within the court’s authority.

Court Imposes Fine on Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

In a surprising twist, the court also penalized Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for violating an earlier court order that prohibited both parties from making public comments on the case. The fine, according to the ruling, runs into millions of naira.

• This landmark ruling is expected to have far-reaching implications for legislative discipline, separation of powers, and constituency rights in Nigeria.

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