The Nigerian Senate says it cannot reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan until it thoroughly examines the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the recent court judgment directing her recall.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, explained that the Senate had formally requested the CTC and would convene to consider its contents before taking any action.
“The Senate applied for the CTC on Monday. Once we receive it, we will study it and then take a position. We are committed to complying with the court order, but only after fully understanding its details,” Adaramodu said.
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months on 6 March following allegations she made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Her suspension—based on a recommendation from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions—stripped her of salary, security escorts, and access to the National Assembly complex.
The senator later challenged her suspension at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Binta Nyako last week ordered the Senate to lift the suspension. However, the court also fined Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan N5 million for contempt.
Adaramodu cautioned against misinterpreting the situation, noting that the Senate remains guided by constitutional provisions and its own Standing Orders. He stressed that the legislature must uphold rules to prevent disorder.
“Some people misunderstand how the Senate operates. If we had no rules, it would lead to chaos. The court itself acknowledged that the Senate is constitutionally empowered to establish and enforce its rules. That’s why we have Standing Orders, and anyone who breaches them can be sanctioned by the entire chamber,” he said.
He added that it was regrettable that, despite the court’s recognition of the Senate’s internal powers, some Nigerians still called for actions that would undermine legislative order.