The Nigerian Senate has stated it cannot immediately reinstate suspended Kogi Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, insisting that due process must be followed before any action is taken. This announcement comes amid mounting public and legal pressure following a recent court order directing the Senate to recall the embattled lawmaker.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6 for six months after she made sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The suspension was based on recommendations from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, led by Senator Neda Imasuen (APC–Edo South).
Challenging her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan approached the Federal High Court in Abuja. Last week, Justice Binta Nyako ruled in her favor, ordering the Senate to reinstate her. However, the court also found Akpoti-Uduaghan in contempt and imposed a ₦5 million fine.
Despite the court’s directive, the Senate, through its spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu, clarified that it has applied for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment. Adaramodu emphasized that the Senate would not act until it receives and thoroughly reviews the official court document. “The Senate had applied for the CTC since Monday. We expect to get the document, and once we get it, we are going to comply with the content of the court order. But first, the Senate will sit and consider the contents of the CTC, and when we look at the contents, then we shall take a position,” he explained.
Adaramodu further defended the Senate’s right to discipline its members, noting that the chamber’s Standing Orders empower it to reprimand any senator who contravenes its rules. He also clarified that the 180-day suspension imposed on Akpoti-Uduaghan includes non-parliamentary days, in line with Senate rules.
The Senate’s stance has drawn criticism from some quarters, with detractors accusing the legislative body of foot-dragging. However, Adaramodu insisted that only those familiar with legislative procedures can fully appreciate the necessity of following established protocols before reinstating a suspended member.
As the Senate awaits the CTC of the court judgment, the fate of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan remains uncertain, highlighting the ongoing tension between judicial directives and legislative autonomy in Nigeria’s democracy.