The Court of Appeal Abuja has held that the Senate acted within its powers when it suspended the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for misconduct.
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‎In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, the appellate court said it was satisfied that neither the Appellant’s parliamentary privilege nor her constitutional rights were breached as a result of her suspension from the Senate.
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‎The court, however, vacated the contempt proceeding and ₦5 million fine that were awarded against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over the satirical apology she made to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
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‎In its lead verdict that was delivered by Justice Abba Muhammed, the appellate court held that the Senate President was not wrong to have denied the Kogi Senator, who was not on the official seat that was allotted to her during plenary on February 20, 2025, the opportunity to speak.
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‎It held that the Senate President is empowered by the Rules to allocate seats to members, adding that lawmakers are only allowed to speak from seats allocated to them.