iDeemlawful—The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Monday upheld the Senate’s decision to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, ruling that the upper chamber acted within its lawful authority.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal against the Clerk of the National Assembly and three others.
Marked CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025, the court held that the suspension did not violate her parliamentary privileges or constitutional rights.
However, the appellate court nullified the contempt proceedings and the ₦5 million fine imposed on the senator over a satirical apology addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
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Delivering the lead judgment, Justice A. B. Muhammed ruled that the Senate President acted in line with Senate Rules by denying Akpoti-Uduaghan the opportunity to speak during plenary on February 20, 2025, after she failed to sit in her officially assigned seat.
The court further noted that the Senate President is empowered under the chamber’s rules to reassign seats to lawmakers, and that members are only permitted to address plenary from their designated seats.
More details shortly…