Natasha Fires Back as Akpabio Challenges Court-Ordered Reinstatement

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has dismissed the appeal filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who is seeking to overturn a court ruling that reinstated her to the Senate after a six-month suspension. Akpabio’s legal team approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja to contest the July 4 judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, which nullified Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and described it as excessive and lacking legal justification.

The appeal, marked CA/A//2025 and filed on July 14, stems from suit FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, initiated by Akpoti-Uduaghan to challenge her suspension from representing Kogi Central. Akpabio is urging the appellate court to set aside the ruling, arguing on 11 grounds that the trial court had no jurisdiction over what he called internal legislative matters. According to him, such issues are shielded from judicial review under Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution.

The Senate President further argued that the court erred by rejecting his preliminary objection and interfering in parliamentary proceedings. He maintained that actions taken during plenary sessions, including suspensions and resolutions, are protected under the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and should not be litigated.

Akpabio also contended that Akpoti-Uduaghan failed to exhaust internal Senate redress mechanisms—specifically the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions—before taking legal action, in violation of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 (as amended). He accused the Federal High Court of breaching his right to a fair hearing by addressing issues that were not raised by either party, such as the severity of the suspension, and then ordering her reinstatement without giving both sides a chance to respond.

Efforts to obtain a formal statement from Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan were unsuccessful. However, during a brief appearance at the screening of *Double Minority*, a documentary event organised by Daria Media and the MacArthur Foundation, she declined to answer questions about whether she planned to resume her Senate duties. When pressed about Akpabio’s appeal, she responded sharply: “Did you also ask him to tell you why he appealed it?” before leaving the venue.

Tensions between both lawmakers date back to February 20, 2025, when a confrontation over seating arrangements escalated into serious allegations. Akpoti-Uduaghan later accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and claimed he made inappropriate advances tied to her legislative work. The Senate Ethics Committee later dismissed her petition on procedural grounds and imposed a six-month suspension, barring her from accessing her office, salary, and official security.

Justice Binta Nyako, in her July 4 ruling, declared the suspension unlawful and ordered her reinstatement. While fining the lawmaker N5 million for contempt over a social media post, the court emphasized that her absence had deprived Kogi Central constituents of representation.