The Nigerian Senate has outlined conditions for the reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, following a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that declared her six-month suspension by the Senate as excessive.
Justice Binta Nyako, delivering the judgment on Friday, ordered the Senate to reinstate the senator. However, Senate Spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu stated that the Senate would not immediately comply, emphasizing that the court’s ruling did not override the Senate’s constitutional authority to discipline its members.
“The court affirmed the Senate’s right to discipline erring members,” Adaramodu said. “Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must comply with the court’s directives, including offering restitution, before the Senate considers her reinstatement.”
Adaramodu clarified that the Senate would reconvene to review the matter only after the senator fulfills the court’s requirements, such as issuing a formal apology. “The onus is now on her to act as directed by the court. The Senate will then assess her response and decide the next steps,” he added.
Senate counsel Paul Dauda, SAN, described the ruling as a partial victory for the Senate, particularly regarding the court’s decision on civil contempt over social media posts made during the case. The court ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to retract a satirical apology, publish a proper apology in two national dailies, and pay five million naira in damages to the court.
Dauda noted that the court’s suggestion to lift the suspension was not a binding order but an obiter dictum, a non-binding remark. “The judge only suggested the suspension may have been excessive. We will review the full judgment and consult before responding,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar praised the court’s decision and commended Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for challenging her suspension. In a post on X, Atiku stated, “I commend Justice Binta Nyako for her courage in lifting the suspension and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for seeking justice in a chamber where women are already vulnerable.”
The Senate’s next steps hinge on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s compliance with the court’s directives, as the controversy surrounding her suspension continues to unfold.
