Natasha: Akpabio commends judiciary for upholding Senate rules

Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, on Tuesday commended the judiciary for what he described as a landmark ruling by the Court of Appeal affirming the authority of the Senate to enforce its Standing Orders and discipline erring members.

Akpabio spoke on the floor of the Senate while reacting to the appellate court’s decision, which he said upheld the Senate’s internal rules and validated the suspension earlier handed to a serving senator over what he described as “very unruly behaviour” during plenary.

“I must congratulate the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the landmark decision of the Court of Appeal delivered on Monday, which affirmed that your rules are derived from the Nigerian Constitution and that the Standing Orders of the Senate must always be obeyed,” Akpabio said.

He stressed that legislative institutions, like any organised society, cannot function without strict adherence to rules and order.

“Any community without law and order will live in anarchy,” the Senate President said.

“And so, the suspension that you earlier handed over to one of your colleagues for very unruly behaviour in the Senate was confirmed by the Court of Appeal.”

Read also: Appeal court affirms Senate’s suspension of Natasha Akpoti, sets aside N5m fine, contempt charges

Akpabio added that the ruling not only validates the Senate’s action but also reinforces the legislature’s constitutional powers to maintain discipline among its members.

“So, it is now judicially confirmed by the Court of Appeal,” he said.

“The Court of Appeal went further to say that you have the powers to discipline any erring officer of government.”

He concluded by praising the judiciary for what he described as fairness and courage in upholding the rule of law.

“So, I said I should just mention that congratulations, and we also applaud the judiciary for their fairness,” Akpabio said.

The comments come against the backdrop of the legal battle involving Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended by the Senate following a heated confrontation during plenary that lawmakers said amounted to a breach of the Senate’s Standing Orders.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had challenged her suspension in court, arguing that the Senate acted beyond its powers and violated her constitutional rights.

The case reignited public debate over the extent of the National Assembly’s authority to discipline its members and the balance between legislative privilege and judicial oversight.

While lower courts had earlier been approached in the matter, Akpabio told lawmakers that the Court of Appeal’s ruling had now settled the question, affirming that the Senate’s Standing Orders are constitutionally grounded and enforceable.