No Return Yet to Red chambers for Natasha as Senate Says Court Ruling Not Binding
The Nigerian Senate has reaffirmed its position regarding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that the recent court pronouncement on the matter was advisory in nature and does not compel her immediate return to legislative duties.
The Senate’s clarification comes amid preparations by the embattled senator to resume plenary on Tuesday, citing a judgment by Justice Binta Nyako, which criticized the Senate’s six-month suspension as being inconsistent with constitutional guarantees of representation.
In a statement issued Sunday by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the upper chamber emphasized that it had not received any judicial directive ordering an override of its disciplinary decision.
“The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Enrolled Order does not contain any express or enforceable mandate for Senator Natasha’s reinstatement,” Adaramodu said, responding to a letter from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyers, M.J. Numa & Partners LLP. “What the judgment offered were non-binding remarks concerning the length of the suspension, not a declaratory or injunctive order.”
Justice Nyako’s ruling, delivered on July 4, 2025, expressed concern over the effect of prolonged legislative suspensions on constituents’ right to representation. Though widely interpreted by some legal commentators as a critique of the Senate’s internal disciplinary procedures, the court stopped short of issuing any formal directive compelling the Senator’s immediate recall.
The Senate, however, maintains that its powers under Section 60 of the Nigerian Constitution which grants the National Assembly the authority to regulate its internal affairs remain fully intact.
“The judgment did not invalidate our constitutional authority,” Adaramodu continued. “It remains within the Senate’s discretion to determine the scope and enforcement of disciplinary measures. No ruling has stripped the chamber of that autonomy.”
While assuring the public of its respect for judicial processes, the Senate cautioned against any premature assumptions about the legal weight of the court’s commentary. It also pledged to review the judgment in detail and communicate its final position in due course.
“The Senate remains committed to constitutional order, the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary,” the statement read. “But it equally guards its institutional processes from misinterpretation or external overreach.”
The leadership’s response underscores a growing tension between the judiciary’s interpretive role and the legislature’s procedural sovereignty a delicate balance that remains under national scrutiny as Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension continues to stir legal and political debate.
