The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the Senate’s suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, ruling that the upper legislative chamber acted within its constitutional and procedural powers.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal against the Clerk of the National Assembly and three others in suit number CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025, finding that her suspension did not violate her parliamentary privileges or fundamental rights.
However, the court drew a clear line on disciplinary overreach, setting aside the contempt proceedings and the ₦5 million fine imposed on the senator over a satirical apology she addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice A. B. Muhammed held that the Senate President acted in accordance with Senate Rules when he refused to recognise Akpoti-Uduaghan during plenary on February 20, 2025, noting that she was not seated in her officially designated seat at the time.
The court further affirmed that the Senate President has the authority to reassign seating positions of lawmakers and stressed that senators are only permitted to speak from their allotted seats during plenary sessions.
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