- Akpoti-Uduaghan appealed N5m contempt ruling, calling it an attack on her freedom of expression and legal fairness.
- The Federal High Court held that suspending a senator for six months silences an entire senatorial district unfairly.
The senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has informed the management of the National Assembly that she will resume plenary on Tuesday.
Her decision comes after the Federal High Court nullified her six-month suspension from the Senate, branding it unconstitutional.
The court, presided by justice Binta Nyako, described the suspension as a breach of her constituents’ right to representation.
In a letter dated 11 July, written by her lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the Clerk of the National Assembly to immediately act on the court’s order.
“After a thorough consideration of the facts and applicable law, the Honourable Court made several findings and orders. including, notably, a definitive pronouncement in Order 10 that the six-month suspension imposed on the Plaintiff was excessive, overreaching, and inconsistent with her ability to comply with the provisions of Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution,” the letter read.
“This finding aligns with long-standing judicial precedent as well as the provisions of Order 66(4) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 which does not contemplate a suspension exceeding a period of 14 days.”
The court declared the action illegal and directed the Senate to facilitate her immediate recall and reintegration.
“In consequence, Her Lordship directed that the Senate has the power and indeed should exercise that power to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and allow her to resume representation of the constituents who duly elected her to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This order constitutes a binding decision within the meaning of Section 318 of the Constitution,” the letter added.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said she would resume plenary on Tuesday, 15 July, and warned against further delay or disrespect for the court’s decision.
“Accordingly, we respectfully demand that you give immediate effect to the clear and binding Order of the Federal High Court by taking all necessary steps to facilitate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resumption of her legislative duties forthwith, in full compliance with the Court’s judgment.
“Please, also take notice that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan intends to resume her legislative duties on Tuesday, the 15th day of July, 2025.
“We trust that this matter will be treated with the urgency and seriousness it demands, in order to avoid any further breach of the Plaintiff’s constitutional rights or disregard for the authority of the Court.”
Her return notice comes two days after she filed an appeal challenging a N5m contempt fine imposed on her by the same court.
Justice Nyako had ruled that the senator committed civil contempt after making a satirical Facebook post while her case against the Senate was ongoing.
In a notice of appeal filed 9 July by her lead counsel, Roland Otaru (SAN), Akpoti-Uduaghan is seeking to overturn the ruling, calling it a violation of her right to freedom of expression.
She argued that the fine was flawed both in fact and in law, and threatened her right to criticise public institutions within legal bounds.
The senator described the contempt ruling as unjust and damaging to judicial fairness.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 following her conduct during the 20 February plenary session.
The suspension followed a unanimous vote by her colleagues based on the recommendation of the Ethics Committee.
Her removal sparked backlash, with critics accusing the Senate of abuse of power.
She took the matter to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), an international body of lawmakers.
The Federal High Court later ruled that suspending a senator for six months amounted to silencing an entire senatorial district.
It is yet to be seen whether the National Assembly will obey the court’s order.
Only last Thursday, the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, removed Akpoti-Uduaghan as chairperson of the Senate diaspora committee.