JUST In: Court Tells Senate to Recall Akpoti-Uduaghan

…Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan Fined N5m  for Posting Satirical Apology on Facebook

By Emmanuel Kwada

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Nigerian Senate to immediately recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, who was suspended for six months on March 6, 2025, over alleged misconduct.

The court described the suspension as “unduly excessive,” arguing it unjustly deprives the people of Kogi Central of their rightful representation in the Senate. Justice Nyako further advised the Senate to review its rules on sanctions to ensure fairness and proportionality.

Combo photo of Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

However, in a twist, the court also found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt for posting a satirical apology on her Facebook page on April 27, 2025, in violation of a court order issued on April 4, which barred parties from making public statements about the ongoing case.

As a penalty, the senator was fined N5 million and ordered to publish a public apology in two national dailies within seven days and on her Facebook page within two days.

The case stems from a legal challenge filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

The senator’s suspension followed a dispute over a reassigned seat during a plenary session on February 20, 2025, which the Senate deemed a violation of its standing rules. The controversy escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim he has denied, sparking widespread public debate.

The senator was fined N5 million and ordered to publish a public apology in two national dailies

Justice Nyako’s ruling, originally scheduled for June 27, was delivered on July 4, 2025, after a postponement. The court’s decision has reignited discussions about parliamentary procedures, gender dynamics, and the balance of power within Nigeria’s Senate, where only four of 109 senators are women.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had previously called the suspension “unlawful,” arguing it violated Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to freedom of expression and undermined her constituents’ right to representation.

This ruling is separate from recent cybercrime charges filed against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, for which she was granted bail. The senator’s legal battles continue to draw attention, with supporters and critics alike closely watching the unfolding developments.

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