Senate Expects Judgment Copy While Natasha Prepares For Return

‎Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has announced her intention to resume her duties in the Senate on Tuesday, following a Federal High Court ruling that nullified her suspension and ordered her immediate return.
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‎However, the Senate has stated that it will not take any formal action until it receives and examines the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment delivered on July 4, 2025.
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‎In a statement on Sunday, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, explained that while the Senate’s legal team was present in court, the full judgment was not read aloud during the proceedings.
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‎He further revealed that the Senate has submitted a formal request to obtain the CTC for proper legal review and interpretation.
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‎He emphasized that since none of the parties involved in the case had been served the enrolled court order, any attempt at enforcement would be legally premature.
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‎The Senate reiterated its dedication to upholding the rule of law and constitutional principles, calling on citizens to stay calm and allow the legal process to take its course.
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‎Despite the suspension, the senator announced plans to return to her legislative duties on Tuesday.
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‎She made this known in a video posted on social media, which began gaining traction on Sunday.
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‎She expressed gratitude to her supporters for their unwavering backing.
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‎“I thank you for your support. I am glad we are victorious today. We shall resume in the Senate on Tuesday by the grace of God,” she said.
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‎Justice Binta Nyako, in her ruling, declared the suspension unconstitutional and directed that Akpoti-Uduaghan be reinstated without delay.
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‎However, the court also found the senator in contempt over a Facebook post characterized as a satirical apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
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‎According to the court, the post breached an interim order issued on March 4, 2025, which prohibited all parties from making public or social media statements about the pending case concerning her suspension.
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‎Justice Nyako ordered Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to pay a N5 million fine for the Facebook post, which was found to have violated the court’s directive.
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‎The senator had been suspended by the Senate in March following a contentious and chaotic plenary session triggered by disputes over seating arrangements in the chamber.
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‎The controversy escalated days later when she publicly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment during a live television interview.
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‎In her judgment, Justice Nyako stated that the senator’s prolonged suspension was not only procedurally improper but also denied the constituents of Kogi Central their constitutional right to representation.
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‎Meanwhile, the Kogi Renaissance Group has cautioned Akpoti-Uduaghan against taking any unlawful actions or attempting to force her way into the Senate chamber in light of her legal dispute with the Senate.
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‎The group emphasized that although the Federal High Court ruled in her favour by ordering her reinstatement, it also imposed a N5 million fine and demanded a formal apology for contempt, a situation they said required restraint rather than aggression.
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‎In a strongly worded statement signed by its spokesperson, Segun Faniyi, the group voiced concern over reports suggesting that Akpoti-Uduaghan intended to “storm” the Senate in protest.
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‎The group cautioned that such an action would heighten tensions, disregard the court’s decision, and erode the credibility of Nigeria’s legislative body.
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‎It urged the embattled senator to avoid any steps that might be seen as bypassing the rule of law.
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‎The group also acknowledged that its earlier backing of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan—including the engagement of media influencers to sway public sentiment—was based on limited and incomplete facts.
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‎“The court’s detailed judgment has provided clarity, and we now recognise the need for restraint and adherence to due process,” Faniyi stated.
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‎The group offered a wholehearted apology to the Senate and Senate President Akpabio, describing its earlier actions as misguided “the suspended senator’s previous conduct.”
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