A freshly released copy of the court judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has added new layers of complexity to the ongoing political saga surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently suspended from the Nigerian Senate.
The judgment, which had been eagerly awaited following the legal challenge filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan against her six-month suspension, appears to simultaneously question the proportionality of the Senate’s action and reinforce its authority—leaving many observers more puzzled than before.
In the ruling, Justice Nyako expressed concern that the length of the suspension was “excessive and overreaching,” noting it effectively denies the senator the constitutional ability to represent her constituents.
“That to suspend a member for a period of six months equals a suspension of 180 days and this is the same number of days a member is expected to sit in the House representing his people,” the judge wrote. “I find this excessive and overreaching, noting that it will prevent a member from complying with Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution.”
While the judge affirmed that the Senate retains the power to modify its internal rules and the Legislative Houses (Powers & Privileges) Act, she also urged that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan should be recalled and allowed to resume her legislative duties.
Asked to explain the implications of Justice Nyako’s grammatical construction, a lawyer said: “Even my seniors are at a loss how to explain it.”
Despite this judicial nudge, the Senate appears to be proceeding with its own course. At Thursday’s plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio formally replaced Akpoti-Uduaghan as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Senator Aniekan Bassey of Cross River State was named her successor, effectively closing her chapter in the leadership of any Senate committee—for now.
This marks the second reshuffle affecting the Kogi Central senator since she took office in November 2023. Initially appointed Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content, she was moved to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February 2025—a shift that drew political scrutiny after her active oversight of key oil and gas agencies. Her March 6 suspension over allegations of misconduct during that reshuffle further stoked the controversy.
Yet, as political doors in Abuja appear to close, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has turned her focus squarely on her constituents. Over the weekend, she launched two ambitious infrastructure projects: ultra-modern “smart markets” in Okene and Okehi Local Government Areas of Kogi State. The projects, scheduled for completion by November 2025, are designed to support hundreds of rural traders and boost local commerce.
Each market will feature 80 trading spaces—divided between lock-up stores and open stalls—and will include solar power, boreholes, public toilets, truck bays, and street lighting.
“I was elected to serve, not to sit,” Akpoti-Uduaghan declared at the launch event. “My suspension cannot suspend my responsibility.”
Her defiant stance has resonated with many in her constituency. Chiefs, women’s groups, and youth leaders attended the ground-breaking ceremonies, applauding her commitment to tangible development even amid political setbacks.
“Even when they say she can’t talk in Abuja, she’s working here. That’s louder than any speech,” said one trader at the Ihima Central Market.
Political analysts suggest her grassroots engagement could shift the narrative surrounding her suspension. “She may be off the roll call in Abuja, but in Kogi Central, she’s showing up—breaking ground, building trust, and reminding Nigerians that public office begins where the people are,” said Ismail Omeza Salisu, a commentator from her senatorial district.
While the courts continue to deliberate the legality of her suspension and the Senate gears up for what could be a contentious political return, Akpoti-Uduaghan seems intent on proving that her mandate does not rest within the chamber alone.
“Politics ends the day elections are over,” she told supporters. “After that, what matters is delivery. And that’s not a party thing—it’s a people thing.”
For now, her supporters see her as a politician redefining representation—one market stall, one borehole, and one brick at a time.
Click below to read a copy of Nyako’s judgment:
