Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has announced her return to legislative duties in the Senate on Tuesday, following a court order mandating her reinstatement.
In a video shared on social media and now trending, the senator expressed gratitude to her supporters.
“I thank you for your support. I am glad we are victorious today. We shall resume in the Senate on Tuesday by the grace of God,” she said.
Her statement follows a ruling on Friday by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which declared her six-month suspension by the Senate unconstitutional, excessive, and a violation of her constituents’ right to representation.
Presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, held that the suspension lacked legal backing and ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan’s immediate recall to the Red Chamber.
However, the court also found the senator guilty of contempt for a satirical apology she posted on Facebook, directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The post was deemed to have breached an interim injunction issued on March 4, 2025, which barred parties from commenting publicly or on social media about the ongoing case. For this violation, the court imposed a ₦5 million fine on the lawmaker.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension in March stemmed from a heated plenary session that turned chaotic over disputes regarding seating arrangements. The situation escalated days later when she accused the Senate President of sexual harassment during a live television interview.
In her judgment, Justice Nyako stressed that the prolonged suspension was procedurally flawed and denied the people of Kogi Central their constitutional right to representation. She reminded lawmakers of their constitutional obligation to attend at least 181 sitting days in a legislative year and cautioned against arbitrary suspensions that undermine democratic governance.
The court further criticised the Senate’s disciplinary procedures, calling on the National Assembly to review its internal rules to align with constitutional standards and principles of fair hearing.
