Senate Sets Conditions for Natasha Akpoti Return After Court Order

The Nigerian Senate has said it will not immediately reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, despite a recent court ruling that nullified her six-month suspension.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, ruled that the Senate’s action violated the Constitution and denied her Kogi Central constituents fair representation.

Justice Binta Nyako, who delivered the judgment, described the suspension as excessive and unlawful. She ruled that the Senate’s decision went against the spirit of democratic representation and called on the legislative chamber to revise its disciplinary procedures.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had taken the Senate, its President Godswill Akpabio, the Clerk of the National Assembly, and Senator Neda Imasuen to court, challenging the legality of her suspension. The court agreed with her position and criticized the lack of due process.

While the court ordered that the suspension be lifted, the Senate has responded with conditions. Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu stated that the court ruling did not remove the Senate’s authority to discipline its members. He said the court acknowledged the Senate’s constitutional role and did not fully absolve the senator.

According to Adaramodu, the Senate will only revisit Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case after she has fulfilled certain requirements set out in the judgment. This includes a formal apology, which the court instructed should be published in two national newspapers. The Senate insists that until she meets those conditions, no steps will be taken toward her reinstatement.

The Senate also won one aspect of the case. Their legal counsel, Paul Dauda, SAN, explained that the court sided with them on the matter of contempt over social media posts made during the legal proceedings. As part of the ruling, Akpoti-Uduaghan was ordered to take down a satirical apology posted online and replace it with a proper one. She must also pay five million naira in damages to the court.

Despite the court declaring the suspension unlawful, the Senate maintains it acted within its rights. For now, the next move lies with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. The Senate has made it clear that her reinstatement depends on her compliance with the court’s directives.