The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Nigerian Senate to reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from representing Kogi Central.
Justice Binta Nyako, in a ruling delivered on Friday, described the six-month suspension as disproportionate.
She criticised Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, noting that neither provision outlines a maximum duration for suspending a serving senator.
According to the judge, lawmakers are constitutionally allowed to sit for 181 days in a legislative session, and suspending Senator Natasha for nearly the entire duration of that period effectively silenced her voice and left her constituents without representation.
While acknowledging the Senate’s right to discipline its members, Justice Nyako stressed that such measures must not violate the principle of fair representation.
The court also ruled in favour of Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s decision to deny Akpoti-Uduaghan a chance to speak during plenary while she was not seated in her designated spot.
Additionally, the judge rejected Akpabio’s claim that the matter fell outside the court’s jurisdiction, affirming that the case merited judicial intervention.