Appeal Court affirms suspension of Natasha
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) division has affirmed the decision of the Senate to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti, declaring that the senate leadership acted within its powers.
Penpushing reports that a three-member panel in Natasha’s appeal against the Clerk of the National Assembly and three others in a unanimous judgment delivered said the suspension did not breach Akpoti-Uduaghan’s parliamentary privileges or constitutional rights.
The appellate court in the case reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025, Justice Abba Muhammed in the judgement held that the Senate President acted within the Rules by denying Akpoti-Uduaghan the opportunity to speak during plenary on February 20, 2025, as she was not seated in her officially allotted seat.
Penpushing further reports that the court pointed out that the Senate President is empowered under the Senate Rules to reallocate seats to lawmakers, and that members are only permitted to speak from their designated seats.
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., stressing that Natasha’s claim that she was not given prior notice of the change of seat was unattainable because there was no provision for prior notification as she claimed.
Penpushing also reports that the unanimous judgement emphasized that 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 added that, Natasha, upon being told of the reallocation of her seat, ought to have moved to the new seat, stating that the Senate was right to enforce order six, following her persistent refusal to obey the Senate order.
Penpushing reports that the court similarly held that the refusal of Natasha to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Petition and Privileges did not help her matter, equally dismissed Natasha’s claim that her suspension was carried out in violation of an order by Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
The court added that, since Justice Egwuatu recused himself and the matter started afresh by Justice Binta Nyako, the order of Justice Egwuatu was no longer subsisting, however, the court faulted the contempt charge against Natasha and the N5 million fine imposed on her by Justice Binta Nyako.
Penpushing further reports that the court of appeal, declared that the failure by the trial court to serve forms 48 and 49 on Nathasa was fatal, and, therefore, set aside the contempt proceedings and the N5 million fine imposed on her over a satirical apology she directed at the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
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