Court Invalidates Senator Natasha’s Suspension, Convicts Her Of Contempt

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was accused of contempt of court and declared convicted by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday, was lucky to get a N5 million fine.

The senator, who represents Kogi Central, was convicted of contempt by the court sequel to a Facebook post on April 27, 2025, which contains a satirical apology.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Justice Binta Nyako, while delivering judgment in the suit filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan challenging her suspension by the senate, began with the contempt application filed by the Senate President, Barrister Godswill Akpabio.

The Senate President had argued that Natasha’s facebook post in question violated an earlier court order restraining all parties from talking to journalists or making social media posts in respect of the case.

Senator Natasha’s counsel however argued that the social media post at issue was not connected to the court order concerning her suspension, but rather referred to separate issue involving sexual harassment allegations against the third respondent (Akpabio).

Justice Nyako however submitted that after reviewing the Facebook post in question and the application filed by the third respondent, she was satisfied that it was linked to matters that have to do with the suspension and therefore declared Natasha convicted of contempt.

The judge ordered that Senator Natasha should publish an apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days and also pay a fine of N5 million.

Although the senator and her supporters may be preparing for a fresh legal battle to get her cleansed of the ‘ex-convict’ status, she however left the courtroom with good news.

The judge ruled that the Nigerian Senate acted beyond its powers by suspending Natasha for six months and ordered that she should be allowed to resume her legislative duties without delay.

Justice Binta Nyako described the duration of the suspension as ‘excessive’ and without a clear legal foundation noting that both Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Orders and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, which the upper chamber cited did not stipulate a maximum suspension period.

Cognizant that the National Assembly is only required to sit for 181 days in a legislative year, suspending a lawmaker for roughly that same length of time effectively silences the voice of an entire constituency which is according to the judge unconstitutional.

‘While the Senate has the authority to discipline its members, such sanctions must not go so far as to deny constituents their right to representation’ she submitted.

Justice Nyako however noted that the Senate President’s refusal to allow Natasha make a floor speech because she was not seated in her designated chair did not amount to a violation of her rights.

The judge also rubbished the line of argument canvassed by the Senate President that the judiciary has no business interfering in what he called an ‘internal affair’ of the legislature, noting that fundamental rights and representation are matters that are within the court’s purview.

Senator Natasha has continued to receive a great deal of public attention since the altercations involving her and the Senate President, Barrister Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements during a plenary session on February 20, 2025.

Recall also that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had alleged that she is being victimized by the Senate President because she had refused to join him in participating in the game that requires no referee.

 The senate on March 6, 2025, suspended Natasha for 6 months -Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you