The Senate has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s ruling upholding the suspension of Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing the judgment as a firm endorsement of parliamentary independence and the principle of separation of powers.R
eacting to the decision on Monday, the upper chamber said the ruling confirms that its authority to discipline members is constitutionally guaranteed, and that courts can only intervene where there is a clear breach of the Constitution or existing laws.
The judgment was delivered by the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which unanimously ruled in appeal CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025 that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension did not violate her parliamentary privileges or fundamental rights.
However, the court granted the senator a partial relief, striking out the ₦5 million fine and apology order imposed on her during contempt proceedings linked to the controversial six-month suspension she had repeatedly challenged as unlawful.
The legal dispute began on February 20, 2025, when Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled Akpoti-Uduaghan out of order during plenary after she refused to speak from her reassigned seat. The incident led to her suspension and referral to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, triggering a legal battle that tested the limits of legislative discipline and judicial oversight.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice A. B. Muhammed held that Akpabio acted strictly within the Senate Standing Rules by denying the senator the floor, noting that lawmakers are only permitted to speak from their officially assigned seats.
The court further explained that the Senate President is empowered to allocate and reassign seats, adding that under Section 66(4) of the Standing Rules, the Senate has the authority to discipline members to maintain order and decorum.
Justice Muhammed faulted Akpoti-Uduaghan for refusing to comply with the seat reassignment, dismissing her argument that she was not given prior notice. The court stated that once she became aware of the new seating arrangement, she ought to have moved accordingly.
The appellate court also ruled that the Federal High Court should have declined jurisdiction, stressing that the Senate acted within its internal rules when it suspended the lawmaker for breaching legislative procedures.
It further rejected the senator’s claim that her suspension violated an ex parte order issued by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, explaining that the order lapsed after the judge recused himself and the case began afresh before Justice Binta Nyako.
However, the court overturned the contempt proceedings and the ₦5 million fine imposed by Justice Nyako, ruling that the failure to properly serve Forms 48 and 49 on the senator rendered the sanctions invalid.
Commenting on the judgment, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, praised the ruling in a statement issued in Abuja.
He said the decision “decisively reinforces parliamentary autonomy and separation of powers,” adding that the Senate’s disciplinary powers are protected by the Constitution and only subject to judicial review in cases of clear constitutional violations.
According to him, the court affirmed that lawful disciplinary actions do not amount to a breach of fundamental rights, stressing that such rights apply only when lawmakers comply with established Senate rules.
Efforts to reach Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lead counsel, West Idahosa, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing.
However, sources within the senator’s legal team described the judgment as an affirmation of due process, noting that while the Senate has disciplinary powers, such authority must always be exercised within constitutional and procedural boundaries.
“The Court of Appeal has once again reinforced the principle that no authority is above the law. Where due process is ignored, the outcome cannot stand,” a source said.
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