The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has upheld the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate, affirming that the upper legislative chamber acted within its constitutional and procedural powers.
Delivering judgment on Monday, a three-member panel of the appellate court unanimously dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal against the Clerk of the National Assembly and three others in suit number CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025, ruling that her suspension did not infringe on her parliamentary privileges or fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.
However, the court set aside the contempt proceedings and the ₦5 million fine earlier imposed on the Kogi lawmaker over a satirical apology she addressed to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, describing the punitive measures as excessive in the circumstances.
In the lead judgment delivered by Justice A. B. Muhammed, the court held that the Senate President acted in accordance with the Senate Rules when he barred Akpoti-Uduaghan from speaking during plenary on February 20, 2025, on the grounds that she was not seated in her officially designated position.
Justice Muhammed noted that the Rules of the Senate expressly empower the Senate President to maintain order during proceedings, including the authority to reassign seats, stressing that lawmakers are only permitted to speak from their officially allocated seats during plenary sessions.
The court further emphasised that while the Senate has wide discretion to regulate its internal affairs and discipline its members, such powers must be exercised within the bounds of the law and without imposing disproportionate sanctions.