The Senate refuses to reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan until she apologizes publicly and pays a ₦5 million fine.
Her suspension followed a contempt ruling and ongoing legal battles.
The Nigerian Senate has stated that it will not immediately reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan despite a Federal High Court ruling that nullified her six-month suspension. The Senate insists that she must comply with all court directives, including publishing a formal apology and paying a ₦5 million fine for contempt, before her return can be considered.
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who delivered the ruling on Friday, July 5, described the suspension as excessive and a violation of the constitutional rights of Kogi Central constituents who were left without representation. However, the judge did not issue a binding reinstatement order, instead criticizing the Senate’s disciplinary framework for lacking clarity on the duration of suspensions.
Reacting to the judgment, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu reiterated that the ruling does not strip the Senate of its authority to discipline members.
“The court hasn’t taken away the Senate’s right to discipline members,” he said. “It’s now up to her to apologize as directed. Once she does that, the Senate will sit and determine the next steps.”
Adaramodu further noted that the Senate reserves the right to assess the content of the apology before making a final decision on reinstatement.
The Senate’s legal counsel, Paul Dauda, SAN, also called the ruling a “partial victory,” asserting that while the court questioned the length of the suspension, it also found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt and upheld the Senate’s disciplinary rights.
“There was no direct order for reinstatement. The judge only remarked that the suspension might have been excessive, but it was not a binding order,” Dauda clarified.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was penalized over a satirical apology post she made on Facebook in April, which the court interpreted as contemptuous. As a result, Justice Nyako ordered her to:
- Publish a formal apology in two national newspapers and on Facebook within seven days.
- Pay a ₦5 million fine for contempt of court.
Failure to comply, the court warned, could lead to further legal consequences.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 for alleged gross misconduct following a public confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Tensions escalated when she accused Akpabio of punishing her for rejecting alleged sexual advances, a claim Akpabio strongly denied.
Her suspension sparked backlash from civil society groups and constituents in Kogi Central, who argued that the Senate’s action was politically motivated and undemocratic.
The Federal High Court’s ruling aligns with previous judicial opinions that legislative houses cannot suspend elected officials in a manner that deprives constituents of representation without due process. However, the inclusion of the contempt ruling complicates Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal win.
This is not her only legal challenge. The senator is also facing fresh charges from the Federal Government, including accusations of making false assassination claims against Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello. She was granted bail in that separate case earlier this week.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan now has a narrow window to comply with the court’s directives. Once she issues the apology and settles the fine, the Senate leadership will meet to deliberate her reinstatement.
Until then, her seat in the Red Chamber remains vacant, and her constituents in Kogi Central continue to lack direct representation in the upper legislative chamber.
