Court Verdict: Natasha Vows To Resume Tuesday, Senate Awaits CTC

Suspended Kogi Central Senatorial District representative in the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has told her jubilant supporters in a video trending on social media that she would resume her legislative activities in the Red Chamber on Tuesday this week.

aHowever, the Senate said it has acknowledged the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 4, 2025, in the suit filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan but was yet to receive the ruling’s Certified True Copy (CTC) for legal response.

Natasha expressed gratitude to her supporters following the judgment reaffirming her position in the Senate.

She said, “I thank you for your support. I am glad we are victorious today. By the grace of God, we shall resume in the Senate on Tuesday.”

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja fined Akpoti-Uduaghan N5 million on Friday after finding her guilty of contempt of court over a Facebook post deemed to have violated an earlier court order.

aThe court also nullified her six-month suspension from the Senate, declaring it excessive, unconstitutional, and an infringement on the rights of her constituents.

Justice Binta Nyako, in a ruling that spanned multiple legal issues, held that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Facebook post, a satirical apology directed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio, breached an interim injunction issued by the court on March 4, 2025.

That injunction barred all parties from making public statements or social media posts about the ongoing suit she filed challenging her suspension.

The Senate suspended the embattled senator in March after a rowdy plenary during which she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.

The suspension, which was slated to last six months, sparked outrage across various civil society groups and human rights organisations.

Akpoti-Uduaghan sued the Senate and its leadership, arguing that the action was a calculated attempt to silence her and disenfranchise her constituents.

In response to a satirical Facebook post dated April 27, in which she offered what the court described as a “mock apology” to Akpabio, lawyers representing the Senate President filed a contempt application against her.

The lawyers claimed that the post defied the court’s gag order.

During proceedings, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team contended that the post was unrelated to the suspension case, insisting it concerned her allegations of misconduct by the Senate President.

Justice Nyako, however, disagreed, stating that the post was clearly linked to the matter before the court and therefore constituted a deliberate breach of the court’s directive.

Delivering her ruling, Justice Nyako imposed a ₦5 million fine on the senator and ordered her to issue a public apology within seven days.

The apology must be published in two national dailies and reposted on her Facebook page.

In a separate but related decision, the court struck down the Senate’s six-month suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing it as ultra vires and lacking constitutional backing.

The judge ordered her immediate recall to the Red Chamber and criticised the Senate’s disciplinary procedures, urging the National Assembly to review its internal rules to ensure they align with democratic principles and constitutional guarantees.

Justice Nyako stressed that elected lawmakers are constitutionally required to attend at least 161 sitting days in a legislative year and that the prolonged suspension effectively denied the people of Kogi Central their right to representation.

The ruling has elicited mixed reactions.

The senator’s supporters hailed the decision as a victory for democracy, transparency, and gender rights.

Meanwhile, legal analysts say the verdict sets an important precedent for how courts may intervene in legislative affairs, particularly in cases involving fundamental rights.

When this report was filed, the Senate leadership had not officially commented on whether it would appeal the ruling.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is also facing a separate criminal defamation trial, which has been adjourned to September 23.

The Senate has acknowledged the judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 4, 2025, in the suit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, but stated it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling.

In a statement issued to journalists yesterday in Abuja, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, clarified the Senate’s current position, emphasising that no conclusive action can be taken until the official court documents are received and reviewed.

“Our legal representatives, who were in attendance at the proceedings, have confirmed that the complete judgment was not read in open court,” he said.

He explained that the Senate has formally requested the CTC to facilitate a thorough legal review, particularly in light of the uncertainty regarding whether the court made any direct order nullifying Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.

The statement further emphasised that since no party involved in the case has been officially served with the enrolled order of the judgment, no part of the ruling can be legally enforced.

“Pending receipt and examination of the CTC, and acting on the advice of counsel, the Senate will refrain from taking any steps that may prejudice its legal position,” Adaramodu stated.

Reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to the rule of law, he noted that any further action would strictly comply with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria once the court’s pronouncements are fully clarified.

“We urge the public to remain patient and assured of the Senate’s fidelity to due process,” he added.