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Why Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan cannot resume at the Senate yet

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By Ken Harries Esq

In Nigeria’s political landscape, the National Assembly is meant to be a sanctuary of sober deliberation and a place where rules and processes are observed with discipline, decorum and responsibility. Yet in this same hallowed chamber, the suspended Kogi Central Senatorial District Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has continued to demonstrate a determination not to play by the book but to tear it up altogether. Her rebuffed threat to resume legislative duties on 4 September 2025, after a six-month suspension, has exposed a troubling mix of arrogance, hypocrisy, and legal incoherence. It is one thing for a politician to fight for survival. It is quite another for a trained lawyer to insult the intelligence of the very system of justice she once pledged to defend.

The acting Clerk of the National Assembly, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, wrote a letter that has since circulated widely, calmly reminding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that her case is still before the Court of Appeal and that her unilateral announcement to return to the Senate chamber is an exercise in futility.

That letter was not a mere administrative formality. It was the institutional voice of the legislature reaffirming a principle as old as democracy itself: that one cannot be both litigant and judge in the same matter. It was the Senate standing firm, refusing to be bullied, and placing fidelity to process above the whims of one desperate politician.

■ The Suspension, the Court, and the Contempt

To understand the quagmire in which Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan now writhes, one must trace the sequence of her missteps. On 6 March 2025, she was suspended for six months following an unruly behavior towards the Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seat allocation, a quarrel that she escalated by levelling accusations of sexual harassment without any proof. The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions investigated and imposed suspension as a disciplinary measure to preserve the dignity of the hallowed chamber.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to accept this sanction. Instead, she raced to the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking judicial intervention. There, she encountered a ruling that should have taught her humility. On 4 July 2025, Justice Binta Nyako delivered an unambiguous verdict. The disciplinary measures and suspension were indeed found to be constitutional and well situated within the prisms of law and order. Yet, in the same ruling, the court fined her five million naira and to apologize in some National Newspapers for civil contempt after finding that she had violated a gag order. To be clear, the very court to which she turned for relief also found her guilty of misconduct.

This is where the doctrine of equity becomes relevant. The maxim that he who goes to equity must go with clean hands is not a rhetorical flourish but a cornerstone of legal reasoning, recognised in common law and frequently cited in Nigerian jurisprudence. Cases, such as Awojugbagbe Light Industries Ltd v. Chinukwe (1995), stand as monuments to its enduring power. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s contempt conviction poisoned her entire plea. She sought justice with stained hands. She left the court diminished and shredded.

Her response to the judgement was not to acknowledge this taint with remorse but to appeal. She challenged the fine imposed while the Senate simultaneously filed a cross appeal. By their appeals, both sides placed the matter before the Court of Appeal, which has yet to pronounce upon it. Under Section 18 of the Court of Appeal Act, filing an appeal does not itself stay the execution of a judgement unless expressly ordered. Yet, in cases involving parliamentary privileges, a higher principle comes into play. The subjudice rule demands that parties refrain from actions that may prejudice an ongoing case. That is why the Clerk’s letter pointed out to the obvious: until the Court of Appeal delivers judgement, nothing can be done. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is bound by that rule. Her decision to disregard it is not only reckless but also contemptuous of the very system she invoked.

■ Playing Judge in Her Own Case

The arrogance of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s conduct lies in her decision to appoint herself as judge, jury, and enforcer. She announced her return to the Senate chamber as though she were the Court of Appeal itself. This is not only laughable but also dangerous, for it undermines the doctrine of natural justice embodied in the principle of __nemo judex in causa sua,_ which holds that no one should sit in judgement over his or her own case.

This principle has been enforced repeatedly in the Nigerian courts. In _Garba v. University of Maiduguri_ (1986), the Supreme Court made it clear that fairness requires impartial adjudication. Yet here is Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a lawyer no less, choosing to place herself above that principle. Her unilateral declaration that her suspension has expired ignores the fact that the Senate’s cross appeal is still alive and pending. It also ignores the constitutional power of the National Assembly to regulate its own procedures under Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution(as amended). The Senate has exercised that power and appealed to defend it. By attempting to circumvent this process, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is attempting to tear apart the fabric of separation of powers.

Those who argue that the High Court’s order should have an immediate effect overlook the unique character of this case. This is not a landlord–tenant quarrel or a commercial dispute where execution can run immediately unless stayed. This is a constitutional contest between legislative privilege and judicial oversight. In such matters, courts themselves have traditionally acted with restraint to avoid unnecessary intrusions into parliamentary autonomy. The case of __El-Rufai v. House of Representatives_ (2003) is instructive, demonstrating the caution with which Nigerian courts approach disciplinary decisions of legislative bodies.

For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s insistence on barging back into the chamber while the matter is under judicial review is more than procedural error. It is an affront to both the Senate and the Court of Appeal. It is akin to storming the pitch during a football match, while the referee is still consulting the video assistant referee(VAR). It is not only premature, but it is also disruptive. And, in politics, disruption of this kind invites fresh sanctions. The Senate would be well within its rights to impose additional penalties, and the Court of Appeal itself might take notice if it sees her conduct as an attempt to ridicule its authority.

■ Hypocrisy, Partisan Noise, and Lessons from History

The hypocrisy at play here is simply breathtaking. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan claims to be the champion of justice and victim of harassment, yet she herself has been fined for contempt by a court of law. She insists on the sanctity of judicial review, yet now chooses to disregard the same judicial process by cherry picking and acting as though the appellate court’s verdict has already been written in her favour. She wears the robe of victimhood while wielding the sword of impunity. This is not the behaviour of a principled lawmaker. It is the behaviour of a political opportunist who wants sympathy when it suits her and who spits on process when it does not.

Her political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, has joined the charade by urging her to resume duties regardless of the pending appeal. This exposes the bankruptcy of its legal reasoning. It treats the law like a buffet table where one can select only the dishes that appeal to one’s palate. But the law does not work that way. It is a full meal that must be consumed in its entirety, bitter herbs and all. The acting Clerk’s letter is not an excuse, as her party would claim, but a necessary reminder that institutions must be defended from the tyranny of personal ambition and lure for power.

Comparisons from other democracies shed further light. In the United Kingdom, Members of Parliament have been suspended for lesser infractions, and none has dared return without due process. In Canada, suspensions have been treated with the utmost seriousness, with courts declining to interfere in the internal proceedings of Parliament. In India, similar disputes have arisen, and each time, the judiciary has been careful not to usurp the disciplinary powers of the legislature. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s antics, therefore, do not represent boldness but recklessness. They show contempt not only for Nigerian institutions but also for the global traditions of parliamentary governance.

■ The Road Ahead

As of 10 September 2025, the Court of Appeal remained silent. That silence is eloquent. It tells the country that the matter is not yet ripe for conclusion. It reminds us that justice takes time and that impatience is not a substitute for law. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat remains empty, and rightly so. She has entangled herself in a legal bind of her own making. She appealed a ruling that never favoured her, yet she now demands the immediate enforcement of a non existent judgement, ignoring the fact that the whole case remains under review.

This is the behaviour of a politician who has lost sight of principle. It is the behaviour of a lawyer who has betrayed her calling. By attempting to bulldoze her way back into the Senate chamber, she has deepened her isolation, eroded her credibility, and risked a legacy as the senator who could not wait for the courts to do their job.

The question here is not whether the Senate is right to shut its doors against the erring senator. The National Assembly has acted with restraint, dignity, and firmness. It has shown that it will not be cowed by theatrics. Most importantly, it has respected the judiciary by waiting for its verdict. And, it has upheld the constitutional order by refusing to allow an individual to hijack its processes. That is the mark of an institution that takes itself seriously.

The right question to ponder now is whether Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has learned that theatrics cannot upstage set legal procedures. Whatever the answer, she still has a choice. She can pay her fine, show contrition, and await the judgement of the Court of Appeal. Or she can continue along the reckless path of self-aggrandisement, in which case she risks being remembered not as a trailblazing senator but as a cautionary tale. Nigeria deserves lawmakers who live by the law and not by political theatrics. Clean hands remain the only acceptable requirement in the court of justice. Until Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan acquires them, her rightful place is not on the floor of the Senate but in the waiting room of accountability.

Ken Harries Esq is an Abuja based Development Communication Specialist

Law & Crime

Gov Okpebholo Seeks Traditional Rulers’ Collaboration to Tackle Insecurity

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Senator Monday Okpebholo of Edo state

By Our Edo Correspondent

In a bid to flushout crimes in fhe state,Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo is seeking stronger collaboration with traditional rulers across Edo State’s 18 local government areas to tackle insecurity and other criminal activities.

Addressing traditional rulers from Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial Districts on a courtesy visit to Government House in Benin City on Thursday, Governor Okpebholo said traditional rulers remain critical stakeholders in the fight against crime because of their close relationship with their communities.

“There are so many security challenges, and the best people to help me fight insecurity are the traditional rulers. You know your communities because you know those who live there and those coming into the area,” he said.

The governor noted that several recent kidnapping cases involved local collaborators who were familiar with the movement and financial status of residents.

“Our people know those who are wealthy and those who are not. They know the movement of people within the community. If we must stop insecurity in Edo State, we must work together to achieve this purpose,” he said.

He urged traditional rulers not to encourage or shield criminal elements, stressing that young people should be discouraged from engaging in crime.

“Let nobody encourage crime. Our children should not be involved. They should understand that crime is dangerous. The President is not happy about the security situation in the country, and I am not happy as well,” he added.

The governor also appealed to the royal fathers to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the next presidential election, expressing confidence that Edo State could deliver substantial votes for the President.

Responding on behalf of the visiting monarchs, the Ojuromi of Uromi, HRM Anslem Edenojie II, passed a vote of confidence in the governor, describing his development efforts across the state as commendable.

The monarch assured Governor Okpebholo of the continued support and cooperation of traditional rulers in promoting peace, security and development across Edo State.

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Law & Crime

Tinubu Moves to Overhaul Criminal Justice, Seeks Senate Approval to Replace ACJA

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By George Mgbeleke

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday asked the Senate to approve the repeal of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and replace it with a new legal framework designed to tackle delays in criminal trials, strengthen justice sector institutions and modernise Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

The executive bill was conveyed in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during Thursday’s plenary.

In his communication on the criminal justice reform, Tinubu said the proposed Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, 2026, would repeal and replace the existing ACJA 2015 to address persistent legal, procedural and institutional shortcomings that have undermined effective justice delivery.

He explained that the proposed legislation would improve the administration of criminal justice in the Federal Capital Territory and other federal courts, while strengthening the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council to ensure effective implementation of the law.

According to the President, the new legal framework is intended to promote efficient management of criminal justice institutions, accelerate the dispensation of justice, strengthen the protection of society from crime and safeguard the constitutional rights of suspects, defendants, victims and witnesses.

Tinubu said the bill would also ensure full compliance by courts, law enforcement agencies and other institutions involved in criminal justice administration.

He identified chronic delays in criminal investigations and prosecutions, poor case-file management, inadequate deployment of technology in criminal proceedings, weak coordination among justice sector agencies, ineffective case management systems and poor monitoring of compliance with the existing law as major challenges necessitating the repeal of the 2015 Act.

The President noted that the draft legislation was prepared by experienced law officers with expertise in criminal law, criminal procedure and legislative drafting, adding that it incorporated recent judicial pronouncements, technological innovations and international best practices.

He added that the proposed law would strengthen the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council through enhanced monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure effective implementation by relevant institutions.

Following the presentation of the communication, the Senate referred the bill to its Committee on Rules and Business with a directive to report back within four weeks.

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Law & Crime

Senator Demands Probe Into N1.3bn Budget Allocation To “Non-Existent” PFIPC*

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Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu

By George Mgbeleķe

Disturbed by the long silence of National Assmbly over the huge allocation to an illegal Agency, Senator Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu has urged the Senate to launch an independent investigation into how the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, an entity publicly disowned by the Presidency as “fake” and “fictitious”, was allocated N1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

Moving a motion on the floor o Senate on Tuesday under Order 9 and Rule 9(c) of the Senate Standing Orders, Senator Kawu, representing Kano South, described the development as a “matter of grave institutional concern” that threatens the integrity of the National Assembly and the credibility of the budget process.

Sen. Kawu told the chamber that despite the Executive publicly disavowing PFIPC and directing law enforcement to arrest its “self-acclaimed officials” for alleged forgery and impersonation, the entity was still captured in the 2026 budget under Code 0111062001.

According to him, the allocation totals *N1,302,978,784*, broken down into *N802,978,784 for personnel costs, N200,000,000 for overhead, and N300,000,000 for capital expenditure*.

“Although sections of the media described the matter as a ‘N2 Billion scandal,’ the verifiable appropriation stands at over N1.3 Billion Naira for an entity now officially claimed by the Government to be non-existent,” Kawu said.

He expressed concern that the inclusion undermines public confidence, exposes weaknesses in budgetary scrutiny, and subjects the Federal Government to “avoidable domestic and international criticism” over transparency and fiscal governance.

In response to his motion Senate resloved as follows:
1. *Condemn* the administrative lapses or fraudulent schemes that allowed PFIPC into the budget.
2. *Direct* the Committees on Ethics, Code of Conduct & Public Petitions and Appropriations to investigate:
a. How the N1.3bn was proposed, scrutinized and approved;
b. The MDAs and officials responsible for facilitating PFIPC’s inclusion;
c. Whether any funds have been released or any bank account operated under the budget line.

Fielding questions from journalists Sen. Kawu clarified that his focus was not on whether the President can create an agency, but on “who legalized the inclusion or who facilitated the inclusion of that agency in the national budget,” which he said is the constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly.

“Any inclusion, any overhead, it is executive proposal. But the constitution too allowed us to compose a budget. We can add. We can subtract. Therefore, if that agency is new and did not emanate from the budget office of the President, then who is responsible in the National Assembly?” he queried.

He noted that while President Bola Tinubu has constituted a committee to investigate the PFIPC saga, the legislature must also “do its own” to safeguard the integrity of the appropriation process.

The motion sparked debate on procedure, with some lawmakers referencing Order 9(9c) on matters of privilege and national importance. Sen. Kawu insisted he invoked privilege because “it has power” and “nobody can stop you.”

He added that most senators are “in support of my position” that the National Assembly cannot “keep quiet” while its name is linked to the controversy.

On whether any money had been released to PFIPC. Sen. Kawu said that was part of what the proposed investigation must determine. “Budget is the most important aspect of this issue. If there is no budget, they can easily go with it. But there is budget. Therefore, they must tell us from where it comes.”

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