Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has said she will return to the Senate chamber on Tuesday following a court ruling that nullified her six-month suspension from legislative duties.
Akpoti-Uduaghan made the announcement in a video she posted online, which quickly gained attention on Sunday. In the video, she expressed gratitude to her supporters for staying by her side throughout the legal battle.
“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.
Her statement came shortly after the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, ruled that her suspension was unconstitutional and denied her constituents the right to be represented in the Senate.
Justice Binta Nyako, who gave the verdict, noted that there was no legal basis for the Senate to suspend the lawmaker for that long. She ordered that Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to return to her duties immediately.
However, the court also found the senator guilty of contempt due to a Facebook post she made, which appeared to be a mocking apology addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The court described the post as a violation of its earlier order from March 4, 2025, which barred both parties from making public comments about the ongoing case.
As a result, Justice Nyako fined the senator ₦5 million for disobeying the court’s directive.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had been suspended in March after a heated Senate session that became chaotic over disputes related to seat allocations. The matter escalated further when she accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment during a live television interview days later.
In her judgment, Justice Nyako noted that keeping a senator away from the chamber for such an extended period goes against democratic values and undermines the rights of voters who elected her. She reminded the Senate that lawmakers are expected to attend a minimum of 181 sessions in a legislative year.
