Abuja — The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigerian Senate to immediately recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended in March for six months over allegations of gross misconduct.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako described the suspension as “unduly excessive,” noting that it unjustly deprived the people of Kogi Central of democratic representation. The court urged the Senate to revisit its rules on sanctions to avoid similar occurrences in the future.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed a suit challenging her suspension and named the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuen—Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions—as defendants.
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However, the court also found the embattled senator guilty of contempt for violating an earlier order that restrained all parties from commenting on the case. On April 27, Akpoti-Uduaghan posted a satirical apology to the Senate on her Facebook page, which the court deemed a breach of its April 4 order.
As punishment, Justice Nyako imposed a N5 million fine on the senator and directed her to issue a public apology in two national dailies within seven days and on her Facebook page within two days.
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Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate on March 6 following allegations of misconduct. According to the Senate, she defied its sitting arrangement by refusing to take her reassigned seat during plenary on February 20.
The court had initially scheduled the judgment for June 27 but postponed it to July 4.
Friday’s ruling is separate from the ongoing cybercrime charges recently filed against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, for which she has been granted bail.
