Akpabio congratulates senators after appeal court upholds suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

• Senate President Akpabio congratulated senators after the Court of Appeal upheld the six-month suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan
• The ruling confirmed the Senate acted within its constitutional authority to discipline members for misconduct
• Akpabio praised the judiciary and emphasised adherence to parliamentary rules and the Constitution

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has congratulated senators following the Court of Appeal’s ruling that upheld the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in March 2025, affirming the upper chamber’s constitutional authority to discipline its members.

Akpabio made the remarks at the opening of an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, praising the judiciary for its firm stance and reaffirming the importance of adhering to Senate rules.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja delivered a unanimous judgment, with a three-member panel concluding that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s parliamentary privileges and constitutional rights were not violated by the suspension. The ruling confirmed that the Senate acted within its powers when it imposed the disciplinary measure over alleged misconduct.

Addressing the senators, Akpabio emphasised the significance of following the Nigerian Constitution and the Standing Orders of the Senate. “Any community without law and order will live in anarchy, and so the suspension that you handed over to one of your colleagues for unruly behaviour in the Senate was confirmed by the Court of Appeal,” he said.

He further highlighted that the court recognised the Senate’s authority to discipline erring public officials. “So, I will say it was judicially confirmed by the Court of Appeal as the court went forward to say that you have the powers to discipline any erring officer of government. So, I said I should just mention that; congratulations, and that we also applaud the judiciary for their firmness,” Akpabio added.

The ruling brings closure to a contentious episode that attracted public attention and scrutiny of parliamentary discipline in Nigeria. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, originally enacted to address alleged disorderly conduct within the Senate chamber, has now been judicially validated, setting a precedent for how legislative misconduct may be addressed within constitutional boundaries.

The affirmation of the Senate’s disciplinary powers comes amid ongoing debates on parliamentary accountability and decorum, reinforcing the principle that legislative bodies in Nigeria have the authority to regulate the conduct of their members while maintaining adherence to due process.