BREAKING: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Set to Resume Senate Duties Tuesday as Court Overturns Suspension

In a dramatic legal turnaround that has stunned many within the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is set to return to her seat in the Nigerian Senate this Tuesday following the nullification of her suspension by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Kogi Central senator, who had been controversially suspended for six months in March, took to social media to confirm her reinstatement, declaring, “I’ll be back in the Senate on Tuesday!”

Her statement follows a court ruling which described her suspension as “unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void,” sending a strong message to the legislative body about the limits of its authority.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, delivering the verdict, stated that the Senate acted beyond its powers by suspending an elected representative without due process, and ordered her immediate restoration to legislative duties.

The ruling has triggered a wave of applause from civil society groups and political analysts who have long criticized the Senate for overstepping its bounds and stifling opposition voices.

However, the victory didn’t come without a caveat.

The same court found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in contempt over a Facebook post described as “satirical and misleading,” in which she allegedly mocked the Senate’s decision and ridiculed some of her colleagues. As a result, she was fined ₦5 million and instructed to publish public apologies in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days.

Despite the fine, legal experts argue that the contempt charge does not interfere with her right to resume duties. According to constitutional lawyer Festus Adebayo, “The fine is a separate matter and doesn’t negate the core judgment, which ordered her immediate reinstatement. She remains the duly elected senator representing Kogi Central.”

This court victory comes after months of political turbulence and behind-the-scenes drama. Akpoti-Uduaghan, a fierce critic of legislative excesses, had maintained that her suspension was orchestrated to silence her voice in the Red Chamber, especially following her public calls for transparency in constituency project allocations and her controversial petition on electoral violence in her home state.

Reactions have since poured in. While her supporters celebrate the ruling as a win for democracy and justice, insiders within the Senate are reportedly weighing their next move.

Some senators believe the institution’s image has been bruised and are urging the leadership to appeal the ruling, though legal observers say such an appeal would likely be futile.

As she returns to the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly, all eyes will be on Senator Natasha—arguably one of the most vocal female lawmakers in recent times.

Her reinstatement not only reinforces her position but sends a broader message about the independence of the judiciary and the resilience of democratic institutions in Nigeria.

For now, the stage is set for what could be a fiery return. The question is: will the Senate embrace her return in peace—or prepare for another storm?

One thing is certain—Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is not backing down.