The Nigerian Senate has firmly rejected calls for the immediate reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that a recent court judgment does not compel her return to the red chamber.
The Senate’s stance follows a legal request submitted by the law firm of Numa S.A.N. & Co. on July 11, 2025. The request referenced a July 4 judgment by Justice Binta Nyako, which Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team interpreted as legal grounds for her immediate recall to legislative duties, citing Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
However, in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, dismissed the legal team’s interpretation, stating that the court ruling did not contain any binding or enforceable directives ordering the Senate to lift the suspension.
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“Justice Binta Nyako merely offered advisory remarks concerning the length of Senator Natasha’s suspension,” Adaramodu said. “These comments are not binding in law and do not override the constitutional powers of the Senate under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution to regulate its own procedures.”
The Senate emphasized that the Certified True Copy of the court’s Enrolled Order contains no explicit instructions mandating Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall. It further stressed that the ruling did not strip the upper chamber of its constitutional authority to enforce disciplinary actions against its members.
“While we acknowledge the judgment,” the Senate said, “it does not issue any declaratory or injunctive reliefs that demand immediate reinstatement.”
The Senate maintained that it would review the court’s observations with diligence and communicate its final decision to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the public in due course.
“We caution against hasty interpretations of judicial commentary or misapplication of constitutional provisions,” the Senate warned, adding that it remains committed to upholding democratic principles, judicial independence, and the rule of law.
