Friday, October 3, 2025
  • Who’sWho Africa AWARDS
  • About TimeAfrica Magazine
  • Contact Us
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • Magazine
  • World News

Home » Column » OPINION |  Senate Rebels Against Court in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Case: A Constitutional Timebomb

OPINION |  Senate Rebels Against Court in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Case: A Constitutional Timebomb

The Senate’s current stance could set a precedent where courts issue constitutional rulings that are rendered moot by legislative non-compliance cloaked as procedural discretion | By CHIDIPETERS OKORIE

July 5, 2025
in Column
0
552
SHARES
4.6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In a country whose democracy is still shaping its contours, the drama surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and the Nigerian Senate’s refusal to immediately comply with a Federal High Court ruling reinstating her has unveiled a profound institutional conflict—one that could reshape legislative accountability and constitutional boundaries in Africa’s largest democracy.

The court decision, handed down on Friday by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, struck down the six-month suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as unconstitutional. According to the judge, the action was not only excessive but deprived the people of Kogi Central—whom she represents—of their fundamental right to representation. Despite this ruling, the Senate has resisted immediate compliance, insisting that she must first “make restitution” before any reconsideration of her reinstatement.

This defiance, framed by the Senate as respect for institutional self-governance, has ignited debates around the rule of law, separation of powers, and the politicization of legislative discipline in Nigeria.

ReadAlso

Suspended But Not Returned: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Fight For Reinstatement Stalls Amid Legal Uncertainty

Men Can Legally Take Multiple Wives, Court Rules

Justice Nyako’s ruling was unequivocal in its condemnation of the Senate’s disciplinary overreach. The court determined that the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan violated Sections 4 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution—provisions that guarantee legislative representation and fair hearing. She urged the National Assembly to re-evaluate its internal disciplinary framework to ensure it aligns with constitutional principles.

In contrast, the Senate’s reaction, delivered through its spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, underscores the legislative body’s entrenched belief in its sovereign powers. “The court has not ousted the Senate’s statutory right to punish any erring senator,” Adaramodu said. “Once she [Akpoti-Uduaghan] makes restitution as directed, we will sit again to deliberate.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Here lies the friction: while the court asserts that the act of suspension was unlawful, the Senate interprets the ruling not as an indictment of its authority, but as a conditional validation of its disciplinary procedures.

Beyond legalistic interpretations, the controversy carries potent political and gendered undercurrents. Akpoti-Uduaghan, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s opposition politics and one of the few women in the Red Chamber, has faced resistance that many interpret as both politically and patriarchally motivated.

Critics argue that her suspension—initially triggered by allegations of misconduct during Senate proceedings—was symptomatic of a broader pattern of political exclusion targeting dissenting and non-conformist voices. Her legal team has emphasized that the Senate’s action was retaliatory, and designed to silence her persistent advocacy on governance issues, especially corruption in the steel sector and electoral reform.

In a patriarchal political landscape, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s vocal stance and independence have made her both a target and a symbol—raising questions about how institutional power is wielded against minority voices, especially women.

While the judiciary has scored a symbolic victory in defending constitutional representation, it stopped short of issuing a direct reinstatement order. Instead, the ruling contains a conciliatory note—requiring the Senator to issue a formal apology and publish it in two national newspapers, take down a satirical social media post about the Senate, and pay ₦5 million in damages to the court for civil contempt.

Senate counsel Paul Dauda, SAN, has portrayed this outcome as a “partial victory,” emphasizing the court’s validation of the Senate’s internal disciplinary rights and its rebuke of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s courtroom conduct. “The court agreed that the social media posts should not have been made,” Dauda said. “This confirms that decorum must be maintained even in legal battles.”

Still, the court’s reaffirmation of constitutional limits on suspension power remains the ruling’s most consequential aspect.

This case may appear isolated, but it strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s institutional order. The tension between legislative independence and judicial oversight is not new, but Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case sharpens the stakes. The Nigerian Senate, like many legislatures globally, operates on internal rules meant to preserve decorum and discipline. Yet, these rules must coexist with constitutional norms—particularly those that protect representation and democratic rights.

If allowed to stand unchallenged, the Senate’s current stance could set a precedent where courts issue constitutional rulings that are rendered moot by legislative non-compliance cloaked as procedural discretion. This would erode the effectiveness of judicial review and weaken democratic checks and balances.

Equally troubling is the message sent to constituents: that their right to representation can be held hostage to opaque political processes. In a region like Kogi Central—already marginalized in many aspects of federal policy—this compounds a sense of political disenfranchisement.

The Senate’s insistence on restitution before reinstatement does not exist in a vacuum. It reflects a deeper crisis of legitimacy within Nigeria’s political class. The National Assembly, often criticized for lack of transparency and internal democracy, is again on the defensive over its institutional integrity.

This situation also risks public disillusionment with the judiciary. If court judgments—especially those touching on constitutional rights—can be selectively implemented, it raises fears that Nigeria’s legal system is becoming advisory rather than authoritative.

In this context, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case becomes more than a personal or partisan struggle—it becomes emblematic of the larger struggle for institutional accountability in Nigeria.

As of now, the ball remains squarely in Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s court. Her team is reportedly preparing to comply with the court’s directives, including the required apology and payment of damages. But whether her reinstatement will follow smoothly is far from guaranteed.

Observers warn that the Senate could impose additional procedural barriers, effectively delaying her return until political winds shift. Should that occur, another legal showdown could ensue—this time testing the limits of constitutional enforcement in Nigeria’s democratic order.

At its core, this saga exposes the fragility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions. The courts can pronounce, but without political will, those pronouncements risk fading into irrelevance. For Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the struggle may soon move from the courtroom back to the Senate floor—but for Nigerian democracy, the deeper battle over who holds power, and how they wield it, is only beginning.

Tags: ConstitutionalcourtNatasha Akpoti-UduaghanNigeria Senate
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Diogo Jota’s distraught family joined by footballing stars for heart-wrenching funeral days after car crash

Next Post

When Power Mongers Regroup: Inside the ADC Circus

You MayAlso Like

Solar panels with wind turbines and electricity pylon at sunset. Clean energy concept.
Column

Balancing Today and Tomorrow: Africa in The Global Energy Trends and Transitions

September 30, 2025
Citizens hold signs as they take part in a rally during the awareness campaign for the upcoming September 21 referendum on a new constitution, in Conakry, Guinea September 16, 2025. The signs read “I vote yes”. | Photo Credit: Reuters
Column

Guinea votes on December 28: Is the election real — or just a ritual?

September 28, 2025
Column

Poor climate crisis warnings put countries around globe at increasing risk of acute hunger

September 27, 2025
Column

Tinubu should not have returned Fubara

September 25, 2025
Column

Tansian University Founders Must Rise or Lose It Forever

September 23, 2025
Column

Trump the Useful Idiot

September 22, 2025
Next Post

When Power Mongers Regroup: Inside the ADC Circus

Elon Musk sets up new political party in wake of falling-out with Trump

Discussion about this post

FIFA Strips South Africa of World Cup Qualifying Points After Administrative Blunder

The Guardian Newspaper Names Enugu Commissioner, Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, Amongst 65 Most Inspiring, Award-Winning Business Leaders

Egyptian ‘strong man’ pulls 700-ton ship with his teeth

Prince Harry issues strongly-worded statement over King Charles meeting

Barack Obama admits he had to ‘dig himself out of a hole’ with Michelle amid divorce rumors

French ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy sentenced to five years in prison in Libyan campaign-financing trial

  • British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

    1241 shares
    Share 496 Tweet 310
  • Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

    1067 shares
    Share 427 Tweet 267
  • Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

    973 shares
    Share 389 Tweet 243
  • ‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

    904 shares
    Share 361 Tweet 226
  • Crisis echoes, fears grow in Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu State

    735 shares
    Share 294 Tweet 184
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

April 13, 2023

Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

December 27, 2022
Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

September 22, 2023
‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

March 21, 2023
Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu, wife of Willie Obiano, former governor of Anambra state

NIGERIA: No, wife of Biafran warlord, Bianca Ojukwu lied – Ebele Obiano:

0

SOUTH AFRICA: TO LEAVE OR NOT TO LEAVE?

0
kelechi iheanacho

TOP SCORER: IHEANACHA

0
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

WHAT CAN’TBE TAKEN AWAY FROM JONATHAN

0

The Guardian Newspaper Names Enugu Commissioner, Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, Amongst 65 Most Inspiring, Award-Winning Business Leaders

October 2, 2025

Poor sleep could make your brain age faster, study finds

October 2, 2025

Moroccans clash with police during protests against World Cup spending

October 1, 2025
ExxonMobil Foundation Brings STEM Regional Competition to African Energy Week

ExxonMobil Foundation Brings STEM Regional Competition to African Energy Week

September 30, 2025

ABOUT US

Time Africa Magazine

TIMEAFRICA MAGAZINE is an African Magazine with a culture of excellence; a magazine without peer. Nearly a third of its readers hold advanced degrees and include novelists, … READ MORE >>

SECTIONS

  • Aviation
  • Column
  • Crime
  • Europe
  • Featured
  • Gallery
  • Health
  • Interviews
  • Israel-Hamas
  • Lifestyle
  • Magazine
  • Middle-East
  • News
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • Russia-Ukraine
  • Science
  • Special Report
  • Sports
  • TV/Radio
  • UAE
  • UK
  • US
  • World News

Useful Links

  • AllAfrica
  • Channel Africa
  • El Khabar
  • The Guardian
  • Cairo Live
  • Le Republicain
  • Magazine: 9771144975608
  • Subscribe to TIMEAFRICA MAGAZINE biweekly news magazine

    Enjoy handpicked stories from around African continent,
    delivered anywhere in the world

    Subscribe

    • About TimeAfrica Magazine
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS

    © 2025 TimeAfrica Magazine - All Right Reserved. TimeAfrica Magazine Ltd is published by Times Associates, registered Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
    • Politics
    • Column
    • Interviews
    • Gallery
    • Lifestyle
    • Special Report
    • Sports
    • TV/Radio
    • Aviation
    • Health
    • Science
    • World News

    © 2025 TimeAfrica Magazine - All Right Reserved. TimeAfrica Magazine Ltd is published by Times Associates, registered Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.