Court orders Akpabio, others to reinstate Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Court orders Akpabio, others to reinstate Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday overturned the suspension of Kogi State Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, declaring it unconstitutional.
In her ruling, Justice Nyako ordered the Senate to reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that the six-month suspension violated the Constitution and deprived her constituents of proper representation.
The judgment was delivered in response to a suit filed by the senator challenging her suspension by the Senate.
Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that while the National Assembly has the authority to discipline its members, such disciplinary actions must not be so severe that they infringe upon the rights of constituents to be represented.
In her judgment, Justice Nyako noted that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension was excessive and unconstitutional, pointing out that it exceeded the 180 legislative days the Senate is expected to sit within a year. She emphasized that the prolonged suspension effectively silenced the voice of her constituents in the Senate, which contradicts democratic principles and constitutional provisions.
However, the court also found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court. As a consequence, Justice Nyako imposed a fine of ₦5 million on her. Additionally, the senator was ordered to issue a public apology to the court. This apology must be published in two national newspapers and posted on her official Facebook page.
The ruling underscores the balance the judiciary seeks to maintain between legislative autonomy and the rights of elected representatives and their constituents.
