Senate Suspends Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for Six Months Despite Court Injunction

Written on 06/03/2025
ICIR

The Nigerian Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, defying an interim order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja that barred the upper chamber from investigating her recent actions.

The court order, delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on March 5, 2025, restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with its investigation into Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The injunction was granted following an ex parte application filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, who sought to block the Senate's disciplinary proceedings over her public allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Despite the court’s directive, the Senate moved forward with deliberations on the matter and, during plenary, voted to suspend the Kogi Central senator for six months, citing gross misconduct and breach of legislative ethics.

The suspension marks the latest development in the escalating feud between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership, further deepening tensions within the upper legislative chamber.

 


However, the Senate went ahead with the investigation and, based on the committee’s findings presented by Neda Imasuen, voted to suspend the Kogi Central lawmaker for violating Senate rules. 

The suspension, expected to take effect from March 6, means that the female lawmaker will be barred from accessing the National Assembly premises and her office will be locked. 

The punishment also extended to her salaries and those of her legislative aides being withheld for the duration of the suspension.

Source