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Suspension, Natasha’s Lie: No Court Order Existed

Published

8 months ago

July 25, 2025

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The recent filing of a Notice of Appeal by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team has now vindicated my position and that of all those who have maintained that the judgment of Hon. Justice Binta Nyako did not contain a mandatory order directing the Senate to recall her before the expiration of her six-month suspension.

In the Notice of Appeal, which contains thirty grounds and seeks to set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ground 23 is particularly striking and revealing. It reads:

“The Learned Trial Judge erred in law and abdicated her judicial duty when Her Ladyship, after rightly adjudging the Appellant’s suspension by the 2nd Respondent for a period of six months as excessive, outside the contemplation of the Constitution and the enabling Act, as well as ultra vires Section 63 of the Constitution, failed to expressly make a clear pronouncement setting aside and/or nullifying same accordingly.”

The particulars of this ground further assert:

The trial judge found the suspension excessive and contrary to the spirit of the Constitution;
Nevertheless, the judge merely believed that the Senate should recall the appellant;
The language employed did not constitute an express or binding nullification of the suspension;
The absence of a clear and direct order created confusion, as reflected in the enrolled order;
The judge’s failure to nullify the suspension expressly has led to multiple interpretations.

This single ground of appeal confirms what we have consistently argued: there was no binding, enforceable order mandating Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the Senate before her suspension elapsed. If such an order existed, there would have been no need to appeal this specific point.

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in exercising its disciplinary powers, acted within the limits of its constitutional and statutory authority. It did not breach any law or violate any rights in sanctioning a member whose conduct on the floor was unworthy of parliamentary decorum. The Senate Chamber is not a theatre for disorder, nor should it be a platform for members to hurl discourtesies at the presiding officer or other colleagues.

Furthermore, Senator Natasha’s dramatized attempt to re-enter the Senate complex, accompanied by a hired crowd and media entourage, was nothing short of a carefully staged spectacle aimed at generating online content for her army of bloggers. It was not about justice, it was about virality.

Her actions, unsanctioned, disorderly, and self-aggrandizing, are unbecoming of the office she holds. They constitute not only a flagrant disregard for institutional discipline but also a fresh insult to the very chamber she claims to respect. Indeed, her conduct could merit another round of disciplinary action.

Let discerning Nigerians note this: the judicial process must be respected in its entirety, not selectively exploited for media sympathy. The appeal filed by Senator Natasha herself has exposed the truth and reaffirmed the position that the Senate has acted within the law.

We were right yesterday, and we are right today. The Senate owes no duty to enforce a non-existent order.

Dayo Fdugba, lawyer and Policy Analyst writes from Abuja.

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EASTER: NKWONTA ENJOINS CONSTITUENTS AND NIGERIANS TO IMBIBE CHRIST-LIKE VIRTUES

Published

2 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Top News Nigeria

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The Member, representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), Hon. Chris Nkwonta, has enjoined his Constituents and Nigerians, to imbibe the virtues of sacrifice, forgiveness, hope, patience, humility and love for humanity as exemplified by Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the real essence of Easter Celebration.

In a statement personally signed by the Legislator, he called on his Constituents and the Christian Community in Nigeria to demonstrate Christ-like virtues of love for humanity, hope for a better future, peaceful and harmonious disposition in their dealings with one another for a United Ukwa Federal Constituency and indeed Nigeria, where brotherly love reigns amongst Citizens.

He maintained that despite the prevailing temporary economic difficulties; there is light at the end of the tunnel and strong hope for a better, improved and secured economy within a short period of time.

Hon. Nkwonta, wished everyone a hitch free and joyous Easter Celebration.

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Rep. Nkwonta Facilitates With Constituents, Nigerians On Easter

Published

18 hours ago

April 3, 2026

Top News Nigeria

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……

Enjons Them To Imbibe Christ -Like Virtues

Hon. Nkwonta, wished everyone a hitch free and joyous Easter Celebration!

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Police, Lawyer Trade Tackles Over Killing Of Peace Moses By Hit-And-Run Convoy

Published

5 days ago

March 30, 2026

Top News Nigeria

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The Rivers State Police Command has declared that the tragic death of a 26-year-old lady, Peace Moses, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, was not reported in any of its divisions or units across the state.

Peace was knocked down last Monday evening by a convoy of about 15 fast-moving vehicles around Omega Junction along Ada-George Road in Port Harcourt.

She was returning from an evening service at her church, Love Channel Christian Centre, also located along Ada-George Road, when the tragic incident occurred.

Last Thursday, a candlelight procession was organised in her honour by her friends and neighbours.

Speaking with our correspondent in Port Harcourt yesterday, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), wondered why neighbours could not report the incident to the Police.

Iringe-Koko stated that even the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Rumuepirikom Police Division was unaware of the tragic incident.

“Probably they didn’t report any such incident to the Police Station because the DPO in charge of that area is asking me where and when the incident occurred.

See, if they don’t report cases to the Police, how would the Police know? We are not magicians. I just spoke with the DPO, and she said she is not aware of anything like that.

“Somebody needs to report or anyhow, information needs to get through so that we too will get it,” she said.

But reacting to the claim by the Police, a human rights lawyer, Courage Nsirimovu, said that, with or without a report on the tragic incident, the Police are duty-bound to investigate the matter.

Nsirimovu said: “The duty of the Nigerian police is to secure lives and properties, and where a life has been lost in such grievous circumstances, the police have a duty to investigate the matter on the basis of their mandate and the public need to prevent such a menace to human life.

“The Police have a duty to investigate the matter, with or without a petition.”