The Senate has reacted to Natasha’s Return to Office following Court Judgment on her unlawful suspension
GoldenNewsNg reports that the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has declared her intention to resume legislative duties in the Senate on Tuesday, following a Federal High Court judgment that voided her suspension and ordered her immediate reinstatement.
Senate Awaits Full Court Judgment as Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Vows to Resume Tuesday
The Senate says it will not take any action regarding the court judgment ordering the reinstatement of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling.
In a statement on Sunday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed that although the Senate’s legal team was present in court, the full judgment was not read in open session. He added that a formal application had been filed to obtain the CTC for proper legal interpretation.
“Pending receipt and examination of the CTC, and acting on the advice of counsel, the Senate shall refrain from taking any steps that may prejudice its legal position,” Adaramodu stated.
He further clarified that no party in the case had been served the enrolled order of the judgment, and as such, enforcement cannot lawfully proceed at this time. The Senate, he noted, remains committed to the rule of law and constitutional governance, urging Nigerians to remain calm as the legal process runs its course.
However, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has declared her intention to return to the Senate chamber on Tuesday, July 9. In a video shared via social media on Sunday, she thanked supporters for standing by her and celebrated the court’s ruling.
“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.
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier ruled that the senator’s suspension lacked constitutional basis and ordered her immediate reinstatement.
At the same time, the court found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt over a Facebook post described as a “satirical apology” addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The post violated an interim injunction issued on March 4, 2025, which barred all parties from making public or social media comments regarding the case.
As a result, the court imposed a N5 million fine on the senator and ordered her to issue a public apology in two national dailies and on Facebook.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 following a rowdy plenary session linked to a dispute over chamber seating arrangements. The controversy escalated days later when she accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment during a live television interview.
In her ruling, Justice Nyako described the suspension as procedurally flawed and said it deprived the people of Kogi Central of their right to representation.
Meanwhile, the Kogi Renaissance Group has warned Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan against any unlawful actions or forceful return to the Senate chamber. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Segun Faniyi, the group said her recent actions, including contempt of court, should be met with caution, not confrontation.
The group expressed concern over reports that the senator might “storm” the chamber in protest, warning that such a move would escalate tensions and undermine both the judiciary and the legislative institution.
“The court’s detailed judgment has provided clarity, and we now recognise the need for restraint and adherence to due process,” Faniyi said.
The group also issued an apology to the Senate and Senate President Akpabio, admitting that its earlier support for the senator was based on incomplete information and misjudgment.
