JUST IN: Appeal Court affirms Natasha’s suspension

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has upheld the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, ruling that the Nigerian Senate acted within its constitutional and procedural powers.

The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Monday by a three-member panel, dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal challenging her suspension. The appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025, was filed against the Clerk of the National Assembly and three others.

The court held that the suspension did not violate the senator’s parliamentary privileges or her constitutional rights.

However, the court set aside the contempt proceedings and the ₦5 million fine earlier imposed on the lawmaker over a satirical apology she directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In the lead judgment, Justice A. B. Muhammed ruled that the Senate President acted in accordance with the Senate Rules by denying Akpoti-Uduaghan the opportunity to speak during plenary on February 20, 2025, after she failed to occupy her officially designated seat.

The court noted that under the Senate Rules, the Senate President has the authority to allocate and reassign seats to lawmakers and that members are only permitted to contribute during plenary from their assigned seats.

Consequently, the court concluded that the actions taken by the Senate leadership in the matter were lawful and procedurally sound, except for the contempt sanction, which it nullified.

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