Court Overrules Senate: Natasha Storms Back After Suspension

DDM News

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has declared her intention to return to the Senate on Tuesday, following a court judgment that nullified her six-month suspension from legislative duties.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, and Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, made the announcement in a viral social media video.

Surrounded by jubilant supporters, she expressed gratitude to those who stood by her throughout the legal challenge.

“I thank you for your support. I am glad we are victorious today.

We shall resume in the Senate on Tuesday by the grace of God,” she said, smiling as supporters chanted and celebrated around her.

The ruling was delivered on Friday, July 5, by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In her decision, the judge ruled that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was excessive, unconstitutional, and a violation of the rights of her constituents to legislative representation.

Justice Nyako emphasized that all legislative bodies must operate within the framework of the Constitution.

The senator’s suspension stemmed from a controversial plenary session in March 2025, during which she openly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.

The allegation sparked outrage and led to a swift and widely criticized suspension.

While the court ordered her reinstatement, it also imposed a ₦5 million fine for contempt of court. This was in response to a Facebook post made by the senator during the trial.

The post, viewed as a sarcastic “apology” directed at Akpabio, was ruled to have violated an earlier court order that barred all parties from making public statements or social media commentary related to the case.

Political watchers say the court’s ruling has reignited national debates about freedom of expression, the conduct of lawmakers, and gender-based power dynamics within Nigeria’s political institutions.

In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally written to both Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio, confirming that it has begun the recall process, another indication that the battle may be far from over.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, widely known for her activism, anti-corruption stance, and unapologetic outspokenness, remains a polarizing figure in Nigerian politics.

While her supporters hail her return as a victory for democracy and women’s rights, critics view her tactics as provocative and damaging to legislative decorum.

Her return to the Red Chamber is expected to further intensify tensions, as both allies and adversaries brace for what may become one of the most charged political comebacks in recent Senate history.

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