Court Orders Immediate Reinstatement of Senator Natasha

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the Nigerian Senate acted beyond its constitutional powers by suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, ordering her immediate reinstatement to the Red Chamber.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako declared the suspension “excessive” and lacking a clear legal basis. The court held that the Senate’s reliance on Chapter 8 of its Standing Orders and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act did not justify the lengthy suspension.

Justice Nyako emphasized that with the National Assembly constitutionally mandated to sit for 181 days in a legislative year, sidelining a senator for nearly that duration effectively robs an entire constituency of representation — a move she deemed unconstitutional.

“While the Senate has the authority to discipline its members, such sanctions must not go so far as to deny constituents their right to representation,” the judge stated.