The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has upheld the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate, ruling that the upper legislative chamber acted within the bounds of its constitutional and procedural powers.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Monday by a three-member panel, the appellate court dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal against the Clerk of the National Assembly and three other respondents in suit number CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025.
The court held that the decision of the Senate to suspend the lawmaker did not infringe on her parliamentary privileges or violate any of her fundamental rights as guaranteed under the Constitution.
However, the panel nullified the contempt proceedings earlier initiated against the senator, as well as the N5m fine imposed on her over a satirical apology she addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
In the lead judgment, Justice A. B. Muhammed ruled that the Senate President acted in line with the Senate Standing Rules when he declined to recognise Akpoti-Uduaghan during plenary on February 20, 2025, on the grounds that she was not seated in her officially assigned seat.
The court further held that the Senate President has the authority to reassign seats to lawmakers and that senators are required to seek recognition only from their designated seats during plenary sessions.