The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Senate to reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing her six-month suspension as excessive and unconstitutional.
Justice Binta Nyako ruled that the suspension violated both the Senate Standing Rules and relevant legislative laws, as it effectively denied Kogi Central constituents their right to representation.
While affirming the Senate’s authority to discipline members, the court emphasized that such punishment must not undermine democratic representation.
Meanwhile, the court also fined Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and ordered her to publish an apology in two national newspapers for breaching a gag order related to the case.
In other news…. Justice Chizoba Orji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has approved bail in the amount of N50 million for the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a ruling issued today, June 19, the presiding judge stated that there was no justification to deny the defendant bail, noting that there is ample evidence indicating her willingness to confront her trial.
As a result, the court mandated that the defendant must provide one surety, who must be a person of good character and possess a property in Abuja.
The court’s decision was grounded in section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, along with sections 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The case has been adjourned until September 23 for trial.
Additionally, the court dismissed a request for the lawmaker to be held in prison custody while awaiting the resolution of the case against her.
The Federal Government is pursuing legal action against the lawmaker for allegedly making a false assertion that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and a former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, were involved in a conspiracy to assassinate her.
Leave a Reply