The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ruled that the Senate acted within the scope of its constitutional and procedural powers when it suspended the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over misconduct.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel of justices, the appellate court held that it was convinced that neither the parliamentary privilege nor the constitutional rights of the appellant were violated by her suspension from the Red Chamber.
However, the court set aside the contempt proceedings and the ₦5 million fine earlier imposed on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in relation to the satirical apology she addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Abba Muhammed held that the Senate President acted properly when he declined to recognise the Kogi Central senator to speak during plenary on February 20, 2025, as she was not seated in the officially designated seat allocated to her.
The appellate court noted that under the Senate Rules, the Senate President possesses the authority to assign seats to lawmakers and that senators are only permitted to contribute to proceedings from their officially allotted seats.
The court therefore concluded that the actions taken by the Senate leadership in the matter fell squarely within its established rules and internal regulatory framework.
More details later…
What you should know
The ruling by the Court of Appeal reinforces the autonomy of the National Assembly to regulate its internal affairs, including discipline and conduct of its members.
While affirming the Senate’s power to suspend a lawmaker for misconduct, the court drew a clear line by overturning the contempt ruling and fine linked to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s satirical apology.
The judgment highlights the balance between legislative authority and the protection of individual rights, signalling that while lawmakers must obey parliamentary rules, sanctions must also strictly align with due process and proportionality.
