Suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has confirmed she will return to the National Assembly on Tuesday, following a landmark Federal High Court ruling that overturned her six-month suspension.
In a video shared online, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed gratitude to her supporters, stating, “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.”
The development comes after Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on Friday that the suspension was unconstitutional, excessive, and a violation of the rights of Kogi Central constituents to representation.
While the court declared her suspension null and void, it also found her guilty of contempt for a Facebook post made during the litigation process. The court described the post as a satirical apology directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which violated a standing injunction against public commentary on the case. A fine of ₦5 million was imposed as penalty.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension in March followed a heated Senate session that reportedly turned chaotic due to a disagreement over chamber seating. The matter escalated when she later publicly accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment during a live interview.
Justice Nyako, in her judgment, emphasised that the prolonged suspension was procedurally flawed and unconstitutional. She reminded the Senate that lawmakers are mandated to participate in at least 181 legislative sittings annually, warning that extended suspensions without due process erode the democratic rights of the electorate.
The court further urged the National Assembly to reform its disciplinary procedures to align with constitutional provisions and uphold the right to fair hearing.
