Court orders Akpabio, others to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the six-month suspension of Kogi State Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is unconstitutional and ordered the Senate to recall her immediately.

In delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Nyako held that while the National Assembly has the authority to discipline its members, the punishment must not be so severe as to deny the senator’s constituents proper representation. The six-month suspension was deemed excessive as it surpassed the 180 sitting days of the Senate.

However, the court found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt for publishing a satirical apology to the Senate President in defiance of a court gag order. She was fined N5 million and ordered to publish a public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days.