Senate set for possible showdown as Natasha resumes today
Senate set for possible showdown as Natasha resumes today
Tension is mounting at the Senate as the leadership prepares for a potential confrontation with the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following her announcement that she intends to attend plenary today.
Despite her declaration, the Senate leadership has maintained that no official action will be taken on her status until a thorough review of the Certified True Copy of the court’s judgment is completed.
In a video circulating on social media, Akpoti-Uduaghan informed her cheering supporters that she would be resuming her legislative duties in the Red Chamber on Tuesday. She also expressed appreciation to her constituents for their unwavering support after the recent court ruling that reaffirmed her mandate in the Senate.
She said, “I thank you for your support. I am glad we are victorious today. We shall resume in the Senate on Tuesday by the grace of God.”
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had, on Friday, nullified the six-month suspension slammed on Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate.
The court declared that the six-month suspension imposed on her was excessive, unconstitutional, and an infringement on the rights of her constituents and ordered that she be recalled from suspension.
The court also imposed a ₦5 million fine on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for contempt, citing a Facebook post that was found to have violated a prior court order.
Justice Binta Nyako, in a ruling that addressed several legal issues, determined that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s satirical apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, posted on Facebook, breached an interim injunction issued on March 4, 2025. The order had explicitly prohibited all parties involved from making public comments or social media posts related to the ongoing legal challenge against her suspension.
However, less than 24 hours after she declared her intention to resume plenary, the Senate stated that it would not take any official steps until it receives and thoroughly reviews the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court’s ruling.
In a statement released on Sunday, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, clarified that although Senate legal representatives were in court, the full judgment was not delivered in open court.
Adaramodu further stated that the Senate had submitted a formal request to obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court judgment to gain a clear understanding of the ruling and any specific directives issued by the court.
The statement read in part: “Until the CTC is received and thoroughly reviewed, and based on legal counsel, the Senate will refrain from taking any action that could compromise its legal standing.”
