The Nigerian Senate has clarified that it cannot proceed with the reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan until it examines the official court documents related to her case against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the Senate’s spokesperson and Chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs, shared this update in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Abuja.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months on March 6, 2025, after accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment. The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, led by Senator Neda Imasuen (APC-Edo South), recommended the suspension, which also involved withholding her salary, withdrawing her security detail, and barring her from the National Assembly complex.
Following her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Binta Nyako recently ruled that the Senate must end her suspension but also imposed a N5 million fine on the senator for contempt. Adaramodu explained that the Senate requested the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment on Monday and will only make a decision after reviewing it. “The Senate will convene to assess the CTC’s contents before determining its stance,” he said.
Adaramodu addressed public criticism, stating that some Nigerians misunderstand the Senate’s procedures and wrongly depict it as disregarding the law. He stressed that the Senate operates under constitutional guidelines, including its Standing Orders, which allow disciplinary actions against members who violate regulations. “Without rules, we would descend into chaos,” he said, defending the Senate’s authority to suspend members for misconduct.
He further clarified that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s 180-day suspension applies to parliamentary session days, not calendar days, as per Senate rules. Adaramodu noted that some critics expect the Senate to ignore rule violations, but he maintained that disciplinary measures are lawful and within the Senate’s discretion. “Non-legislators may not fully grasp how legislative processes function,” he added.
The Senate’s next course of action depends on receiving and analyzing the court’s official documents, which will determine whether Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension is lifted in accordance with the court’s decision.
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