After a court judgment that ordered the reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan back to the Senate, there seems to be another move from the Senate on the meaning of a court ‘order’
The National Assembly has clarified that the Federal High Court judgment in favour of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan did not include any binding directive compelling her immediate reinstatement to the Senate.
In a letter dated July 14 and addressed to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsel, Michael Numa, the National Assembly stated that no enforceable court order exists directing the Senate leadership or president of the Senate to reinstate the suspended Kogi Central lawmaker.
The letter, signed by Charles Yoila, director of litigation and counselling on behalf of the clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), emphasized that the judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako on July 4 was only advisory in nature.
“For our summary of the judgment order, there is no order made on the 4th day of July, 2025 by Hon. Justice B.F.N. Nyako for the Senate, President of the Senate or National Assembly to comply with,” the letter stated.
“The declaratory judgment merely advised the Defendants to exercise their power to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and allow her to resume representing the people who sent her to represent them.”
This response followed a letter from Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel notifying the National Assembly of her intention to resume legislative duties on Tuesday and urging the Senate to act swiftly in accordance with the court judgment to avoid potential contempt proceedings.
The clerk’s stance supports an earlier position expressed by Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu, who also noted that the certified true copy of the court’s enrolled order did not include any declaratory or injunctive relief mandating reinstatement.
Justice Nyako had ruled that suspending an elected lawmaker for six months effectively denied their constituents the right to representation.
However, the court refrained from issuing a directive mandating the Senate to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Instead, it offered an advisory urging the legislative body to reconsider the suspension.
In a separate part of the judgement, the court found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of civil contempt over a satirical social media post deemed disrespectful to court proceedings.
She was fined N5 million and ordered to publish an apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days.
The senator has since appealed that portion of the ruling.
Legal experts say the judgement underscores the ongoing tension between judicial oversight and legislative autonomy.
While courts can interpret constitutional compliance, they often avoid intervening in internal parliamentary processes.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a cross-appeal at the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the judgment.
In a notice dated July 11, Akpabio’s counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to intervene in the Senate’s disciplinary matters and claimed that the senator failed to exhaust internal Senate resolution procedures before filing her case, thereby rendering it premature.
The legal battle continues as both parties await further direction from the appellate court.