By Prosper Mene
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside a ₦5 million fine and an apology order previously imposed on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, in a long-running legal dispute stemming from her suspension by the Nigerian Senate.
In a judgment delivered on Monday, February 9, 2026, a three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice A. B. Muhammed, overturned the contempt proceedings and related penalties against the lawmaker. The fine and directive to tender an apology—arising from a satirical apology she posted on social media targeting Senate President Godswill Akpabio, were vacated, marking a significant win for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on that front.
The ruling came in the appeal against aspects of a Federal High Court decision, which had earlier found her in contempt over the post, which violated court orders amid her challenge to a six-month suspension from the Senate in early 2025. The suspension followed allegations of misconduct, including her refusal to occupy an assigned seat during plenary on February 20, 2025, leading to her being denied the floor.
However, the Court of Appeal affirmed the Senate’s authority to impose the suspension, holding that the upper chamber acted within its constitutional and internal rules to maintain order and discipline. The court ruled that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s fundamental rights and parliamentary privileges were not breached, as the Senate President was justified under Senate Standing Orders in denying her participation when she was not in her allotted seat.
This mixed outcome underscores ongoing tensions in the Nigerian Senate, where the case has drawn widespread attention due to broader allegations of misconduct, defamation countersuits, and political rivalries involving the Senate leadership.
Earlier in 2025, a Federal High Court had described the six-month suspension as excessive and ordered her recall, while imposing the now-overturned contempt sanctions. Subsequent developments included defamation-related filings and withdrawals, including by the Federal Government in separate criminal charges.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has described her original suspension as illegal and unconstitutional, and the latest appellate decision on the contempt aspect provides partial relief, though her suspension status remains upheld pending any further appeals.
The development has sparked reactions across political and social circles, with some viewing it as a check on judicial overreach in legislative matters, while others highlight persistent questions about fairness and gender dynamics in Nigeria’s National Assembly.
