Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has formally informed the management of the National Assembly of her intention to resume her legislative duties on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. This development follows a Federal High Court ruling that declared her six-month suspension by the Senate unconstitutional. The notice, dated July 11, was issued by her legal counsel, Michael Numa (SAN), and addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly. It urged the legislature to comply promptly with the courtβs decision, which was delivered by Justice Binta Nyako.
The court found that the suspension was excessive and violated both constitutional provisions and the rights of her constituents to be represented. The judgment cited Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution and Senate Order 66(4), which limits suspension periods to 14 days.
In the letter, it was emphasized that the court directed the Senate to exercise its power to recall the senator and allow her to resume her duties, as this represents a binding constitutional obligation. Akpoti-Uduaghan has confirmed her readiness to return on July 15 and called for swift action to prevent any further breach of her rights or disregard for the courtβs authority. Her legal team warned that failure to comply could amount to contempt of court.
Meanwhile, two days before issuing the notice to resume, the senator filed an appeal challenging a N5 million fine imposed by the same court. The penalty stemmed from a contempt ruling over a satirical Facebook post made while her case was ongoing. Her appeal, filed on July 9 by lead counsel Roland Otaru (SAN), argued that the contempt ruling infringed on her right to free expression and was flawed in both legal reasoning and substance. She is asking the appellate court to reverse the decision, citing its impact on judicial fairness and legitimate political discourse.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 following allegations of misconduct during a February 20 Senate plenary. The suspension, approved by the Senate based on the Ethics Committeeβs recommendation, was met with criticism and led her to file a formal complaint with the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
In its ruling, the court stated that suspending an elected senator for half the legislative year effectively denied a constituency its voice in national governance. Despite the court order, it remains uncertain if the National Assembly will allow her immediate return. On Thursday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio removed her as chair of the Senate Committee on Diaspora.
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