…may face further disciplinary actions
For daring to take the Senate and it’s leadership to court over her suspension from the upper chamber, Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, may be in fresh trouble if feelers from the national assembly is anything to go by. Cityscenes gathered that following the affirmation of Natasha’s suspension by the Appeal Court, the leadership of the Senate may have plans to revisit her matter.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, affirmed the suspension of Natasha by the Senate. The appellate court held that, the Senate has power to discipline any erring member and that, in the instant case, Natasha’s fundamental right was never breached as she alleged.
In his judgement in the appeal filed by Natasha against the judgement of the Federal High Court, Justice Abba Bello Mohammed held that, from the provision of Section 66(4) of the Senate’s standing rules, the Senate has the power to invoke disciplinary action to ensure orderliness in the conduct of Senate’s proceedings.
The appellate court held that Natasha was wrong on the February 20, 2025 incident when the Senate President allocated a new seat to her and refused to accept the order.
The Court also said that the claim of Natasha that she was not given prior notice on the change of seat was unattainable because there was no provision for prior notification as she claimed.
In the unanimous judgement, Justice Mohammed said the Federal High Court, in the first instance ought to have declined jurisdiction in entertaining the suit having discovered that the Senate acted in line with the provision that permits it to suspend any erring member.
The Appeal Court said, Senator Natasha, upon being told of the re-allocation of seat, ought to have moved to the new seat, adding that the Senate was right to enforce order six, rule two following her persistent refusal to obey the Senate order.
To worsen the situation, the Court of Appeal held that, the refusal of Senator Natasha to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Petition and Privileges did not help her matter.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal also dismissed Natasha’s claim that her suspension was carried out in violation of an order by Justice Obiora Egwuatu adding that, since Justice Egwuatu recused himself and the matter started afresh by Justice Binta Nyako, the order of Justice Egwuatu was not longer subsisting.
However, the court faulted the contempt charge against Senator Natasha and the N5 million fine imposed on her by Justice Binta Nyako.
According to the Court of Appeal, the failure by the trial court to serve forms 48 and 49 on the Kogi Senator was fatal.
The Court therefore set aside the content proceedings and the N5 million fine imposed on the Kogi Senator.
Sources close to the red chamber confirmed to Cityscenes that the appeal.court judgement is currently being studied by the relevant committee in the Senate with a view to seeing how it can be used to further invoke disciplinary actions against the Kogi Central senator.
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