NATASHA Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Kogi senator, has vowed to resume plenary activities on Tuesday.
She made this known in a short viral clip, which gained traction on various social media platforms.
In the video where she was seen with her supporters, she said, “Thank you for your support. I’m glad we are victorious today I Am Reinstated by court.
“And we shall resume at the Senate on Tuesday.”
Though she did not provide further details, her statement is believed to be in reaction to a court ruling that nullified her suspension.
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court on Friday in Abuja ordered the reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, declaring her six-month suspension by the Senate as excessive.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had been suspended by the Senate in March 2025 following a confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements in the chamber.
The altercation escalated when the senator, during a televised interview, accused Akpabio of victimising her for allegedly refusing his sexual advances—a claim the Senate President has vehemently denied.
Following her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan approached the court with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, challenging the legality of the Senate’s action.
In her ruling on Friday, Justice Nyako held that although the Senate possesses the constitutional power to discipline its members, such actions must not infringe on the rights of constituents to be adequately represented.
She faulted Chapter Eight of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act for not stipulating a clear limit on the duration of suspensions, describing both as overreaching.
The court noted that with the Senate constitutionally mandated to sit for 181 days annually, the 180-day suspension imposed on Akpoti-Uduaghan effectively stripped the people of Kogi Central of legislative representation for nearly the entire session.
“The court is not denying the Senate’s right to discipline its members,” Justice Nyako stated. “However, such sanctions must be reasonable and must not undermine the constitutional rights of citizens to be represented in parliament.”
The court also dismissed an objection raised by Akpabio, who argued that the matter was an internal legislative issue and therefore outside the court’s jurisdiction.
Justice Nyako ruled otherwise, affirming the court’s authority to hear the case.
However, the court also found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt for a satirical apology she posted on Facebook on April 27, which was deemed to violate an existing order barring parties from making public comments on the case.
As a result, the judge fined her ₦5 million and directed her to issue a formal apology within seven days in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page.
In a separate ruling, the judge upheld the Senate President’s decision to deny Akpoti-Uduaghan the floor during a plenary session, noting that she had not occupied her officially designated seat.
Despite the court’s decision in her favour, Akpoti-Uduaghan is still facing two other legal battles in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and defamation.
The dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio came to a head on March 6, when the Senate suspended her following the fallout from the seating disagreement on February 20.
The disciplinary action followed her public accusation of sexual harassment and abuse of office against the Senate President.