By By Elizabeth Ugbo
Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday congratulated members of the Senate in Abuja following a Court of Appeal judgment that upheld the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, ruling that the Senate acted lawfully and within its constitutional powers in March 2025.
Akpabio made the remarks at the commencement of an emergency plenary session, shortly after the appellate court delivered its verdict.
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, ruled that the Senate did not breach Akpoti-Uduaghan’s parliamentary privilege or constitutional rights when it suspended her over alleged misconduct. In a unanimous judgment, the three-member panel affirmed that the National Assembly has the authority to discipline its members in line with established rules.
Addressing senators, Akpabio emphasised the importance of adherence to legislative procedures, noting that the Senate’s Standing Orders are derived from the Nigerian Constitution and must be respected at all times.
“Any community without law and order will live in anarchy,” Akpabio said, adding that the suspension imposed on the senator for what he described as unruly behaviour had now received judicial confirmation.
He further stated that the court affirmed the Senate’s power to discipline any erring public officer, describing the ruling as a validation of the legislature’s internal governance.
Akpabio concluded by congratulating his colleagues and commending the judiciary for what he described as its firmness and commitment to the rule of law.
