The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed that the Senate acted within its authority in suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, for misconduct.
In a unanimous ruling on Monday, February 9, delivered by a three-member panel of justices, the court found that the senator’s parliamentary privilege and constitutional rights were not violated by the suspension.
However, the appellate court overturned the contempt proceedings and the ₦5 million fine that had been imposed on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over a satirical apology she issued to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
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Justice Abba Muhammed, delivering the lead verdict, explained that the Senate President was within his rights to prevent the Kogi Senator from speaking during plenary on February 20, 2025, as she was not in the official seat assigned to her.
“The Senate President is empowered by the Rules to allocate seats to members. Lawmakers are only allowed to speak from seats allocated to them,” the court stated.
The decision clarifies the limits of parliamentary privilege while affirming the Senate’s authority to enforce its rules of conduct and seating arrangements.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension has been a subject of intense debate, with critics arguing it raised questions about free expression in the National Assembly, though the appellate court’s ruling now sets a legal precedent for similar cases.