Victor EzejaThe Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Nigerian Senate to recall Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended in March over alleged gross misconduct.
Delivering her judgment on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako described the six-month suspension slammed on the Kogi lawmaker by the Senate as “excessive.”
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe judge who criticized the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act’s section 14 and Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules said that both were excessive.
The court emphasized that neither of the two laws specified a maximum period for which a sitting lawmaker could be removed from office.
The court stated that the six-month suspension imposed on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was equivalent to removing her from her duties to her constituents for approximately 180 days, as lawmakers are allowed to sit in each legislative circle for a total of 181 days.
While acknowledging that the Senate can punish any lawmaker who commits an error, she held that the severity of the punishment cannot be such that it denies the constituents their right to representation.
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However, the court ruled that Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, was justified in denying the plaintiff, who was not occupying her designated official seat, the chance to speak during plenary.
Additionally, Justice Nyako rejected Akpabio’s argument that the court lacked the authority to consider the suit, claiming it was an internal Senate matter.
Meanwhile, the court had, in an earlier ruling, imposed a ₦5 million fine on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for violating its order prohibiting the parties from speaking in public about the suit’s subject matter.
The court then mandated her to publish a formal apology in two national dailies within seven days and also do the same on her Facebook page. It classified her action as a contempt of civil proceeding.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
