Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central and chairs the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, will resume her legislative duties on Tuesday after a Federal High Court ruled her six-month suspension unlawful. The senator shared the news in a video message to her supporters, which quickly spread across social media.
In her address, Akpoti-Uduaghan thanked her constituents for standing by her throughout the legal process. *"I am grateful for your support. Today’s victory is ours, and by God’s grace, I will be back in the Senate on Tuesday,"* she said.
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja declared on Friday that the Senate’s decision to suspend the lawmaker was unjust, unconstitutional, and deprived her constituents of representation. The court directed her immediate reinstatement, overturning the suspension issued in March 2025.
However, the court also fined the senator ₦5 million for contempt over a Facebook post that defied an earlier court order. The post, which contained a sarcastic apology directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio, violated an interim injunction barring public comments on the case.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension followed a heated Senate session in March, where she accused Akpabio of sexual misconduct, leading to a prolonged legal dispute.
The court’s decision has been celebrated by her supporters as a triumph for democracy and fair representation. As she prepares to return, observers are watching how her reinstatement will impact legislative proceedings and her rapport with Senate leadership.
0 Comments