The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, ruling that the Nigerian Senate acted within its powers.
A three-member panel of justices unanimously agreed that the Senate's decision to suspend Uduaghan for misconduct was justified.
The court found that Uduaghan failed to prove that her suspension breached parliamentary privilege or her constitutional rights.
However, it overturned the ₦5 million fine imposed on her for a satirical apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The lead verdict, delivered by Justice A.B. Muhammed, stated that Akpabio was right to deny Uduaghan the opportunity to speak during a plenary session on February 20, 2025, as she wasn't in her allocated seat.
The court emphasized that the Senate President's allocation of seats is guided by the Rules, and lawmakers must speak from designated seats
