The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja today February 9, upheld the suspension of the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for misconduct, saying that the Senate acted within its powers to suspend her.
In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel of Justices, the court held that it was satisfied that neither the Appellant’s parliamentary privilege nor her constitutional rights were breached as a result of her suspension from the Senate.
The court however vacated the contempt proceeding and N5 million fine that were awarded against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over the satirical apology she made to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
More so, the appellate court, in its lead verdict that was delivered by Justice A. B. Muhammed held that the Senate President was not wrong to have denied the Appellant who was not on the official seat that was allotted to her during plenary on February 20, 2025, the opportunity to speak.
It held that the Senate President is empowered by the Rules to allocate seats to members, adding that lawmakers are only allowed to speak from seats allocated to them.
The Senate suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, effective March 6, 2025, over alleged misconduct and violation of Senate rules 2023 (as amended). She was suspended after her faceoff with Senate President, Godswill Akpabio over seat arrangement.
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