ABUJA — The legal battle for the political survival of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan hit a significant brick wall on Monday, as the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed the Senate’s constitutional authority to suspend her from legislative duties over alleged misconduct.
In a unanimous judgment that has sent ripples through the National Assembly, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that the 10th Senate, presided over by Godswill Akpabio, acted within its disciplinary powers. The court ruled that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s parliamentary privileges were not absolute and did not shield her from the internal rules of the chamber.
Parliamentary Discipline vs. Constitutional Rights
The Kogi Central Senator had approached the appellate court seeking to overturn a lower court’s decision that initially upheld her suspension. Her legal team argued that the move was a breach of her fundamental rights and a disenfranchisement of her constituents.
However, the justices disagreed, maintaining that the Senate must be allowed to regulate its internal proceedings to maintain order. “The National Assembly has the inherent power to discipline its members for conduct that brings the institution into disrepute,” the court noted.
A Gavel of ‘Silence’?
The timing of the ruling is particularly sensitive, as the Senate leadership faces intense heat over its handling of the Electoral Act Amendment.
- The ‘Rigging’ Anxiety: Akpoti-Uduaghan has been a vocal critic of the Senate’s recent rejection of mandatory electronic result transmission, a move the ADC has labeled a “Renewed Rigging Plan.”
- The ‘Obi’ Factor: While the court was delivering its judgment, Mr Peter Obi was at the National Assembly gates joining protesters to demand transparency—the very transparency critics say suspended senators like Akpoti were fighting for.
Legal Storm Clouds in Washington
The domestic legal blow to the opposition coincides with a stunning ultimatum from a U.S. Judge to the FBI and DEA to release President Tinubu’s decades-old criminal records. For many, the contrast is stark: while the U.S. court demands transparency, the Nigerian appellate court has strengthened the hand of a Senate leadership accused by Kenneth Okonkwo of being an “enemy of democracy.”
What Lies Ahead
As of Monday evening, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has not indicated if she will take the “fight to the finish” at the Supreme Court. For now, the people of Kogi Central remain without their principal voice on the Senate floor during a period defined by ₦152 trillion national debt and soaring petrol prices.
The “villa peace” brokered between Wike and Fubara suggests a tightening of the ruling party’s grip, leaving independent-minded lawmakers like Natasha to navigate an increasingly hostile legislative terrain.
