Aniefiok Christopher
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division on Monday, nailed Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over the Senate rule violation, affirming her suspension by the Red Chamber.
The appellate court held that, the Senate has power to discipline any erring member and that, in the instant case, Natasha’s fundamental right was never breached as she alleged.
Delivering judgment in an appeal filed by Natasha against the judgement of the Federal High Court, Justice Abba Bello Mohammed held that, from the provision of Section 66(4) of the Senate’s standing rules, the Senate has the power to invoke disciplinary action to ensure orderliness in the conduct of Senate’s proceedings.
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The appellate court held that, Senator Natasha was wrong on the February 20, 2025 incident when the Senate President allocated a new seat to her and refused to accept the order.
The Court also said that the claim of Natasha that she was not given prior notice on the change of seat was unattainable because there was no provision for prior notification as she claimed.
In the unanimous judgment, Justice Mohammed said the Federal High Court, in the first instance ought to have declined jurisdiction in entertaining the suit having discovered that the Senate acted in line with the provision that permits it to suspend any erring member.
The Appeal Court said, Senator Natasha, upon being told of the re-allocation of seat, ought to have moved to the new seat, adding that the Senate was right to enforce order six, rule two following her persistent refusal to obey the Senate order.
To worsen the situation, the Court of Appeal held that, the refusal of Senator Natasha to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Petition and Privileges did not help her matter.
The Court of Appeal also dismissed Natasha’s claim that her suspension was carried out in violation of an order by Justice Obiora Egwuatu adding that, since Justice Egwuatu recused himself and the matter started afresh by Justice Binta Nyako, the order of Justice Egwuatu was not longer subsisting.
However, the court faulted the contempt charge against Senator Natasha and the N5 million fine imposed on her by Justice Binta Nyako.
According to the Court of Appeal, the failure by the trial court to serve forms 48 and 49 on the Kogi Senator was fatal.
The Court therefore set aside the content proceedings and the N5 million fine imposed on the Kogi Senator.
Backstory
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended following a dispute with Mr Akpabio during Senate proceedings on February 20, 2025 over the seat allocated to her in the chamber.
On March 6, 2025, the Senate adopted a report by its Ethics Committee and suspended her for six months, citing misconduct and violation of Standing Orders.
The suspension barred her from performing her duties, sealed her office, and withheld her salaries and allowances. She was eligible to return earlier only if she submitted a written apology, which she refused.
Meanwhile, before the Senate handed down its decision to sanction her, she had filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the disciplinary proceedings.
After she she was suspended, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the court to set aside the disciplinary proceedings including the suspension. She described the Senate’s action as punitive, unconstitutional, and linked to an earlier sexual harassment petition she had filed against Mr Akpabio, which he denied.
About four months later, the court ruled that the suspension was excessive and ordered her recall, but stopped short of mandating her reinstatement. The judge, Binta Nyako, also fined her N5 million for contempt over a social media post made while the suit was ongoing and directed her to issue a public apology.
Due to the controversial nature of the verdict, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan and Mr Akpabio subsequently filed appeals to contest various aspects of the ruling.
Meanwhile, the Senate did not immediately reinstate her, arguing that the court had not ordered such action and that the matter remained under litigation.
When the six-month suspension ended on September 4, 2025, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan notified the National Assembly of her intention to resume. The Senate initially refused, citing the ongoing court proceedings.
The furore ended on September 23, 2025, when officials unsealed her office, which had remained closed since March. But the legal actions continued. Monday’s judgement will likely set off the next phase of appeals at the Supreme Court.
