A confrontation is imminent in the Senate as suspended Sen.Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has declared her intent to return to plenary on Tuesday, July 22, challenging Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s appeal against a court ruling that affirmed her return to the nation’s upper chamber.
The senator, who was in her constituency for a training programme on Saturday, confirmed in an interview with newsmen that she has formally notified the Senate of her decision to resume her duties.
“I have pretty much two months more before the six months expire. However, I have written to the Senate again telling them that I am resuming on the 22nd, which is on Tuesday, by the special grace of God.
“I will be there, because the court did make the decision on that. Now, they argue that it is an order, it is not an order, but it is a decision,” Persecondnews quotes the senator as saying.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended in March, maintained that while the suspension did not stop her from delivering projects to her constituents, it however hindered her ability to carry out key legislative duties such as sponsoring bills and moving motions.
“I did mention that every senator has three major functions. Legislative, which is the creation of laws and review of treaties. Then we have oversight, which is to oversee ministers and agencies. And then the third is representation, which I am doing.
“Whereby I identify the problems and the challenges of my community, and I make sure I present them and have them captured in the federal budget.
“And I have done pretty well with that. Of course, I do miss putting up my bills there, but it did not stop me from working,” she explained.
Persecondnews recalls that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate in March after a controversial plenary session that turned rowdy over disagreements about seating arrangements in the chamber.
Challenging the Senate’s decision, the lawmaker, through an ex-parte motion, urged the court to declare any actions taken by the committee – including her suspension – null, void and of no effect, pending the determination of her suit.
Ruling on the case, Justice Binta Nyako held on July 4 that the suspension lacked constitutional backing and ordered her immediate reinstatement.
The court, however, also found the senator guilty of contempt for a Facebook post described as a satirical apology addressed to Akpabio.
The post, the court held, violated an interim injunction issued on March 4, 2025, barring parties from making public or social media comments on the ongoing suit challenging her suspension.
Nyako imposed a N5 million fine on the senator for the post, which was deemed to have breached the court’s order.
In her ruling, Justice Nyako said the extended suspension of the senator was not only procedurally flawed but also deprived the people of Kogi Central of their constitutional right to representation.
She pointed out that lawmakers are required by the constitution to attend at least 181 sitting days in a legislative year and warned that long suspensions without due process undermine democratic governance.
The court also criticised the Senate’s disciplinary processes, urging the National Assembly to review its internal rules to conform with constitutional principles and ensure fair hearing.
Meanwhile, Akpabio has appealed the Federal High Court’s decision ordering Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall on July 14, 2025, at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, aiming to overturn Justice Nyako’s ruling.
His legal team is contesting the High Court’s jurisdiction, insisting the case concerns the internal affairs of the National Assembly and falls outside judicial purview as provided under Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution.
In the 11-ground appeal, Akpabio faulted the lower court for dismissing his preliminary objection and for issuing orders affecting parliamentary procedures protected by law.
He argued that issues related to suspension, words spoken during plenary, and Senate resolutions are safeguarded under the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and cannot be subjected to judicial interference.
The former Akwa Ibom governor further claimed that the suit was premature and did not exhaust the internal dispute resolution channels of the Senate, particularly the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, as prescribed in the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 (as amended).
He also faulted the trial court for allegedly breaching his right to a fair hearing by raising issues not argued by any of the parties, including the question of whether Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was excessive.
Akpabio said the judge erred by making recommendations for her recall without giving both sides an opportunity to address the issue.
Additionally, he accused the Federal High Court of procedural irregularities by merging interlocutory reliefs sought by Akpoti-Uduaghan with her substantive claims, despite their duplication.
He also argued that her suit should have been struck out for failing to comply with Section 21 of the Legislative Houses Act, which requires a three-month notice to be served on the Clerk of the National Assembly before initiating legal action.
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