The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, Monday, ruled that the Senate acted within its powers when it suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over misconduct.
In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices,the appellate court, held that it was satisfied that neither the Appellant’s parliamentary privilege nor her constitutional rights were breached as a result of her suspension from the Senate.
The appellate court nevertheless vacated the contempt proceeding and N5 million fine that were awarded against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over the satirical apology she made to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The court, in its lead verdict that was delivered by Justice A. B. Muhammed held further that the Senate President was not wrong to have denied the Appellant who was not on the official seat that was allotted to her during plenary on 20 February 2025, the opportunity to speak.
It held that the Senate President is empowered by the Rules to allocate seats to members, adding that lawmakers are only allowed to speak from seats allocated to them.
