Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is set to return to the Senate on Tuesday, following a court ruling that overturned her suspension.
The lawmaker made the announcement in a video shared via social media on Sunday, which quickly gained traction among her supporters.
“I thank you for your support. I’m glad we are victorious today. We shall resume in the Senate on Tuesday, by the grace of God,” she said.
Her return comes after a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, declared her six-month suspension from the Senate as unconstitutional, excessive, and a violation of her constituents’ right to representation.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Binta Nyako ruled that the Senate acted without constitutional authority when it suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan in March. She ordered her immediate reinstatement, affirming that extended suspensions of elected lawmakers without due process erode democratic principles and deny constituents their rights.
However, the court also found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt, citing a Facebook post she made, a satirical “apology” directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio as a violation of a March 4 court order prohibiting public commentary on the case.
As a result, the judge imposed a ₦5 million fine on the senator for breaching the court’s directive.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended following a heated plenary session in March, which descended into chaos over seating arrangements. The controversy escalated when she later accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment during a live television interview.
In her ruling, Justice Nyako criticised the Senate’s disciplinary procedures, urging the National Assembly to review its internal rules to align with constitutional safeguards and ensure the right to fair hearing.
She also noted that lawmakers are constitutionally required to attend at least 181 sitting days per legislative year, warning that arbitrary suspensions threaten legislative integrity and disenfranchise voters.
With the court’s decision now in her favor, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is expected to reclaim her seat and resume full legislative duties, restoring representation for the people of Kogi Central.
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