The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, has said that the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, will not be reinstated until she complies with a Federal High Court order directing her to apologise.
Adaramodu, reacting to the recent court ruling, maintained that the Senate’s constitutional power to discipline its members remains intact and that the judgment does not override that authority.
In March, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged gross misconduct following a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio regarding the sitting arrangement. The incident escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan went on national television to accuse Akpabio of punishing her for rejecting alleged sexual advances. The senator also submitted a petition accusing Akpabio of s3xual harassment, which the Senate President denied.
Challenging her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed suit FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025. Justice Nyako, in her ruling, faulted Chapter Eight of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act for not defining the maximum period a lawmaker could be suspended. She ruled that while the Senate has the authority to discipline members, such actions must not deprive constituents of representation.
“The court is not saying that the Senate lacks the power to sanction a member. However, such sanctions must not negate the constitutional right of constituents to be represented in parliament,” Justice Nyako said.
Justice Nyako also found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt for a satirical apology she posted on Facebook on April 27. The court ordered her to publish a proper apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days, and imposed a N5 million fine.
Responding to the judgment, Senator Adaramodu said, “Which judgment are we appealing when they (court) said the Senate has the right to discipline its erring members? The court has not ousted the Senate’s statutory right to punish any erring senator.”
He added, “It was established that the senator in question erred. The court has already told her to go and do some things, like restitution, so after the restitution, the Senate will now sit again and consider the content of that restitution, and that will inform our next line of action.”
According to Adaramodu, the Senate will not take further steps until Akpoti-Uduaghan complies with the court’s directive. “The onus is no more on us now; it is already on her doorstep to go and apologise. Once she does that, then the Senate will sit and determine how to deal with her matter. The first reaction now will not be from us. The court has ruled, so once she takes the step to redress and does what the court has directed her to do, then the Senate will sit and look at the content of her reaction as prescribed by the court,” he said.
Addressing journalists after the judgment, the Senate’s Counsel, Paul Dauda, SAN, described the ruling as a partial victory for the Senate, particularly on the issue of civil contempt linked to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s social media posts during the case.
Dauda said, “The first application filed by the Senate, that no social media posts should have been made, was decided in our favour. The court directed that the satirical apology be taken down and that a proper apology be published in two national dailies. Additionally, damages of N5 million were awarded to be paid to the court.”
He explained that the court did not order the senator’s reinstatement but made a non-binding observation regarding the suspension’s duration. “There was no relief asking for the suspension to be lifted. The judge only made what we call an obiter dictum, a non-binding remark, that the suspension may have been excessive. We will consult with our colleagues, read the full judgment, and respond accordingly,” he said.
