The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Senate to reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended for six months from representing Kogi Central.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Binta Nyako described the suspension as excessive and unfair to the people who elected her.
The judge criticised Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act, saying both failed to set a clear limit on how long a lawmaker can be suspended.
Justice Nyako noted that lawmakers are expected to sit for 181 days in a legislative year, so suspending a senator for six months is effectively cutting her off from her duties for almost the entire year.
While the court acknowledged that the Senate has the authority to discipline its members, it added that such punishments must not be so severe that they rob constituents of their representation.
However, the court agreed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio acted within his rights when he refused to allow Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to speak during plenary, as she was not seated in her assigned spot.
The court also dismissed Akpabio’s claim that the matter was an internal Senate issue and not within the court’s jurisdiction.
Despite ruling in her favour, the court fined Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for disobeying an earlier order not to make public statements about the case.
She has been ordered to publish an apology in two national newspapers within seven days.
