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APPEAL COURT UPHOLDS SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI’S SUSPENSION, AFFIRMS SENATE POWERS
By PRESSCODE NEWS
ABUJA, NIGERIA. 9TH FEBRUARY 2O26
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has delivered a landmark ruling affirming the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, stating that the Senate acted within its constitutional authority. In a unanimous judgment, a three‑member panel held that the senator’s parliamentary privileges and constitutional rights were not violated by her disciplinary suspension.
The case traces back to March 2025, when Akpoti‑Uduaghan sought to prevent the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions from initiating disciplinary proceedings against her. Following a temporary court injunction, the Senate proceeded to suspend her for six months over allegations of gross misconduct, as recommended by the committee.
Earlier Federal High Court rulings had confirmed the Senate President’s right to determine lawmakers’ seating arrangements, which justified denying Akpoti‑Uduaghan the opportunity to speak during plenary in February 2025. However, the court had criticised the length of the suspension as excessive and imposed a fine of five million naira alongside an order for a public apology over a satirical note the senator published.
Both parties subsequently filed separate appeals. Today, the Court of Appeal upheld the Senate’s power to suspend members, affirming that the disciplinary measures were within parliamentary rules. Significantly, the appellate court set aside the contempt ruling and the five‑million‑naira fine, resolving the contentious aspects of the Federal High Court judgment.
PRESSCODE NEWS INSIGHT
The ruling underscores the constitutional balance between legislative authority and judicial oversight. While lawmakers remain accountable under the law, the Senate’s internal procedures, including discipline and seating arrangements, are reinforced. This judgment provides clarity on the limits of judicial interference in legislative affairs and sets a precedent for future parliamentary governance, ensuring that internal rules are respected without undermining the separation of powers.
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