APPEAL COURT UPHOLDS SENATE’S SUSPENSION OF NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN, SETS ASIDE N5M FINE
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has ruled that the Senate acted within its constitutional powers in suspending the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over alleged misconduct.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel of justices, the appellate court held that the suspension did not breach the senator’s parliamentary privilege or violate her constitutional rights.
However, the court set aside the contempt proceedings and the ₦5 million fine earlier imposed on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in connection with a satirical apology she issued to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Abba Muhammed ruled that the Senate President acted within the rules by denying Akpoti-Uduaghan the opportunity to speak during plenary on February 20, 2025, after she spoke from a seat not officially assigned to her.
The court affirmed that under the Senate Rules, the Senate President has the authority to allocate seats to lawmakers and that members are required to address the chamber only from their designated seats.
According to the panel, compliance with internal legislative procedures is essential to maintaining order and discipline in parliamentary proceedings, adding that the Senate’s actions in the matter were lawful and justified.
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