The Nigerian Senate has once again issued a firm caution to suspended Kogi Central lawmaker, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, warning her to stay away from the National Assembly premises. This reiteration comes amid her insistence on resuming legislative duties despite her ongoing suspension and the absence of a binding court mandate.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had, on Saturday, July 19, declared her intention to return to the Senate on Tuesday, July 22. She cited a judgment reportedly delivered by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, claiming it backed her reinstatement.
Natasha Akpoti.
Responding to her statement, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, made it clear that the judiciary’s position had been misrepresented. He stated:
“The Senate wishes to reaffirm, for the third time, that there is no subsisting court order mandating the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before the expiration of her suspension.”
In a follow-up press briefing held on Sunday, July 20, Senator Adaramodu clarified that the court ruling being cited did not contain any enforceable command requiring the Senate to end the suspension prematurely. Instead, he described the verdict as nothing more than an “advisory opinion.”
He further explained that Justice Binta Nyako’s judgment only suggested that the Senate could, at its discretion, consider reviewing its Standing Orders and the duration of the suspension — which the court remarked might be “excessive” but not unlawful.
Senator Adaramodu noted that the ruling fully acknowledged that the Senate acted within its legal rights and constitutional authority in suspending Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, particularly in relation to her conduct during plenary sessions.
“Rather than issuing any mandatory order for her recall, the Honourable Court gave an advisory,” Adaramodu said.
“It also found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court and imposed a ₦5 million fine, along with a directive to issue a public apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page. These directives remain unfulfilled.”
He warned that any attempt by the suspended senator to re-enter the Senate chambers under what he described as a misinterpretation of the ruling would amount to a serious violation of legislative protocol and could threaten the structure and authority of the National Assembly.
“The Senate emphasises once more: there is no enforceable order directing her immediate return to the chamber. The Senate will consider the court’s advisory at the appropriate time and communicate its decision accordingly,” he said.
“She must allow due process to run its full course,” Adaramodu concluded.[/p>