Senate Warns Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan: No Court Order Mandates Your Immediate Return, Respect Due Process

Senate to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan: No court order compels your return. Respect due process

The Nigerian Senate has issued a firm response to the ongoing controversy surrounding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District. In a clear statement, the upper chamber has urged the embattled lawmaker to respect legislative due process and refrain from attempting to resume her duties before her suspension period ends. This comes in the wake of growing speculations and media reports suggesting that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan plans to return to plenary next Tuesday, citing a recent judgment by a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako. But the Senate, through its spokesperson and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, says otherwise. 

• So, what exactly is the legal status of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension?
• Is there a court order for her recall?
• Has due process been violated, or is this a matter of misinterpretation?

This detailed report breaks down the legal, political, and procedural issues in this unfolding national drama.
In a strongly worded statement released in Abuja, Senator Adaramodu addressed the controversy directly.

“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,” he said.

This clarification follows multiple reports and public statements by Natasha and her supporters suggesting that she is legally cleared to return to the red chamber. However, the Senate maintains that no such directive exists. According to Adaramodu, the ruling in question merely provided an advisory opinion, not a mandatory order compelling the Senate to reinstate the senator.
According to available records, the Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako did not issue any binding order on the Senate. Instead, the judgment:

1. Recommended that the Senate review its Standing Orders and reconsider the length and severity of the suspension, which the court suggested might be excessive.
2. Did not find the Senate guilty of violating any constitutional provisions or laws in suspending Natasha.
3. Found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court for prior conduct.
4. Ordered the senator to pay a ₦5 million fine.
5. Directed her to issue a public apology in two national newspapers and on her official Facebook page.

These details paint a vastly different picture from what the senator’s legal team had allegedly communicated to the public.
The Senate emphasized that before any discussion of her reinstatement can even begin, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must comply fully with the court’s directives, especially the contempt charge.

“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.”

So far, the Senate notes that these conditions have not been fulfilled by the suspended lawmaker.
This non-compliance further undermines any claim to a rightful return.
Amid the swirling confusion and legal interpretations, the Senate’s message remains unequivocal: any attempt by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to force her way back into plenary sessions, under the pretext of an alleged court order, will be viewed as an affront to the authority of the legislative arm.

“Any such action would constitute a disregard for due process and a direct challenge to the institutional integrity of the National Assembly,” Adaramodu warned.

He urged the senator to remain patient and allow internal legislative procedures to take their full course.
To better understand the situation, here's a timeline of key events:

• March 2024: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is suspended from the Senate for conduct described as “grossly unbecoming.”
• April 2024: The senator challenges the suspension in court, claiming her rights as an elected lawmaker were violated.
• June 2024: Justice Binta Nyako rules that while the Senate has constitutional authority over disciplinary actions, it should consider revisiting the harshness of the suspension. However, she finds the senator guilty of contempt of court for previous conduct related to the case.
• July 2024: Senator Natasha announces her intention to return to plenary on the basis of the judgment.
• July 20, 2025: The Senate reaffirms its stance: Natasha must stay away until due process concludes.

This controversy is more than just a legal issue; it’s a matter of political optics and institutional respect.
For Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a return before completing her suspension would signal political victory and public vindication. It would also rally her supporters and amplify her profile ahead of future elections. But for the Senate, allowing such a return without due process would set a dangerous precedent. It could weaken disciplinary enforcement and expose the chamber to further judicial interference in legislative procedures.
Adaramodu noted that the Senate values judicial advice, but that such advice must be weighed internally and implemented at the appropriate time.

“We will review the court’s advisory within our chamber’s legal and procedural context,” he said. “And we will communicate our resolution at the proper time.”

The unfolding drama has divided public opinion across social media and legal circles:

• Supporters of Natasha argue that her suspension was politically motivated and that the court ruling should clear her for resumption.
• Critics and constitutional lawyers argue that the Senate has the right to maintain internal discipline and should not be pressured into hasty reinstatements.

A senior advocate of Nigeria, speaking anonymously, said:

“The Senate is correct to interpret the ruling as advisory. A court can recommend policy reconsiderations, but unless it issues a declaratory or mandatory injunction, no obligation exists.”

While the tension continues to build, some voices within and outside the Senate are calling for a peaceful and legal resolution. They urge Senator Natasha to comply with the court’s penalties and allow the Senate to deliberate on the advisory ruling without pressure or threat of public drama.
According to Senator Adaramodu:

“We must all respect the rule of law, and that includes respecting the procedures of legislative bodies.”

As the situation stands, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan remains suspended, with no court order legally mandating her return. The Senate insists it has not violated any legal provisions and urges the senator to await the proper review of her case. Whether this case will trigger constitutional reforms or further litigation remains to be seen. What’s clear is that the clash between judicial opinion and legislative authority has once again come to the fore in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Lawyers Demand Senate Obey Court Order on Reinstatement

By PrimeLineInfo