*Affirms that Senate acted within its powers
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Monday ruled that the Senate acted within the ambit of its constitutional powers in suspending the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over alleged misconduct.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel of justices, the appellate court held that the Senate did not breach the senator’s parliamentary privileges or fundamental rights in the course of her suspension.
The court, however, set aside the contempt proceedings and the ₦5 million fine imposed on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in relation to a satirical apology she directed at the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
According to the court, while the Senate was justified in exercising its disciplinary powers, the punishment meted out through the contempt ruling was excessive and could not be sustained.
The judgment effectively affirms the validity of the Senator’s suspension but relieves her of the financial penalty and contempt sanction earlier imposed.
