A Federal High Court has ruled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension unconstitutional, ordering her reinstatement.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the immediate reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, declaring her six-month suspension by the Senate unconstitutional and excessive.
Justice Binta Nyako, who delivered the judgment on Friday, ruled that the Senate exceeded its constitutional powers, as neither Chapter 8 of its Standing Orders nor Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act provides for such a lengthy suspension.
“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 said.
Nyako further noted that suspending a lawmaker for nearly the entire 181-day legislative calendar effectively silences their constituency, which is unlawful.