Legal experts have strongly criticized the Nigerian Senate’s decision to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) for six months, calling it illegal, unconstitutional, and a blatant violation of her fundamental rights.
The controversial suspension, announced on Thursday, defied a court order issued just a day earlier by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The judge had barred the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct from proceeding with an investigation against Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged misconduct. Despite this, the Senate moved ahead with the suspension, raising concerns over legislative overreach and disregard for judicial authority.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kunle Edun condemned the move, stating:
“The Senate has overstepped its boundaries. Order 67(4) of the Senate Rules clearly states that a senator cannot be suspended for more than 14 days. Even though this rule itself is unconstitutional, the Senate breached its own provisions by imposing a six-month suspension.”
He further stressed that the matter was sub judice (under judicial consideration), meaning the Senate should have respected the ongoing court process instead of taking unilateral action.
Activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju also called out the Senate, describing the suspension as a desperate attempt to silence Akpoti-Uduaghan. He linked the decision to her petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over allegations of sexual harassment.
“This is a clear case of political persecution. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension is not just illegal, but also an attack on democracy and accountability. The Ethics Committee chairman had previously defended Akpabio, making the entire process biased from the start,” Adeyanju said.
The crisis erupted after Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the reassignment of her Senate seat by Akpabio on February 20, 2025. The Senate referred the issue to the Ethics Committee, but she refused to appear, citing the court order that restrained the probe. Her suspension followed shortly after, reigniting debates on legislative impunity.
In her response, Akpoti-Uduaghan rejected the suspension, vowing to continue serving her constituents despite the Senate’s move.
“This illegal suspension does not take away my mandate. I will continue to serve my people with dedication, regardless of intimidation or political victimization,” she declared.
With legal experts and activists rallying behind her, the battle over the legitimacy of her suspension is far from over.
