February 09, (THEWILL) — The Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed on Monday, February 9, 2026, that the Senate acted within its constitutional powers when it suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, for alleged misconduct.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel, the appellate court ruled that neither the senator’s parliamentary privileges nor her constitutional rights were violated by the disciplinary action.
However, the court set aside the ₦5 million fine and contempt proceedings previously imposed on Akpoti-Uduaghan by a lower court following a satirical apology she directed at the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Abba Muhammed held that the Senate President was within his rights to deny the senator the opportunity to speak during plenary on February 20, 2025, because she was not in her officially allocated seat.
The court emphasized that under Senate rules, the Senate President is empowered to assign seats, and lawmakers are strictly permitted to contribute to debates only from their designated positions.
The suspension originated from a February 2025 plenary session where Akpoti-Uduaghan raised issues of privilege and alleged procedural breaches.
Following a referral to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, the Senate adopted a report on March 6, 2025, suspending her for six months. Although she resumed her duties in September 2025, the legal challenge over the validity of the sanction continued.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed the appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025, against the Clerk of the National Assembly and three others. While a July 4, 2025, judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja had described the suspension as excessive, the Court of Appeal on Monday upheld the Senate’s authority to discipline its members, while nullifying the “indefinite” contempt conviction and fine.
The court held that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rights were never activated in the first instance because she failed to place herself in the correct position required by parliamentary rules to exercise those rights.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
