The Senate has stated that it cannot reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan until it has reviewed the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court judgment regarding her suspension and the legal dispute involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, made this clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, for six months following allegations of sexual harassment she made against the Senate President.
The suspension followed a recommendation from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, presented by Senator Neda Imasuen (APC–Edo South).
As a result of the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s salary, security details, and access to the National Assembly premises were all withdrawn.
She later challenged the decision in the Federal High Court, Abuja, where Justice Binta Nyako ruled last week that the Senate must lift her suspension. However, the court also fined the senator N5 million for contempt.
Senator Adaramodu emphasized that while the Senate respects the court’s ruling, it must first receive and review the official court document.
“We applied for the CTC on Monday and are awaiting its arrival. Once received, we’ll study its content before taking any action,” he said.
He expressed concern that the matter was being misunderstood by the public, and criticized what he described as an uninformed outcry.
“Some Nigerians are making noise about the issue without understanding how the Senate operates. They seem to want the National Assembly to function without rules,” he noted.
Adaramodu stressed that the Senate is constitutionally empowered to set its own rules and that these rules are essential for order and discipline.
“If there were no rules, any senator could walk in and claim the Senate President’s seat. It would lead to chaos,” he said.
He further stated that the court itself acknowledged in its ruling that the Senate has the authority to make and enforce its own rules, including the power to sanction members who violate them.
“That’s why we have Standing Orders. And when someone breaks them, the Senate, as a body, has the right to take disciplinary action,” he added.
Addressing criticisms following the court ruling, Adaramodu said some people seemed to believe that lawmakers should not be held accountable for their actions.
“They expect a free-for-all, where any member can break the rules and walk away without consequences. That’s not how a legislative body works,” he said.
The senator from Ekiti South also clarified that the 180-day suspension given to Akpoti-Uduaghan includes both sitting and non-sitting days.
“Our rules specify 180 parliamentary days not calendar days must be observed in a suspension,” he concluded.
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