The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, ruling that the Senate acted within its constitutional and procedural powers in taking disciplinary action against the Kogi Central lawmaker.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel, the appellate court held that the suspension did not violate the senator’s parliamentary privileges or her fundamental rights.
However, the court set aside the contempt proceedings and the ₦5 million fine earlier imposed on Akpoti-Uduaghan over her satirical apology directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Abba Muhammed ruled that the Senate President acted within the provisions of the Senate Rules when he denied the lawmaker the opportunity to speak during plenary on February 20, 2025, after she spoke from a seat not officially assigned to her.
The court maintained that the Senate President has the authority to allocate seats to lawmakers and that members are required to contribute to proceedings only from their designated seats.
