Senate President Godswill Akpabio has welcomed the Court of Appeal judgment affirming the Senate’s authority to discipline its members, describing the ruling as a landmark decision.
Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Akpabio congratulated the Senate, saying the judgment validated its standing orders and internal rules.
“I must congratulate the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the landmark decision of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed that our standing orders must be obeyed,” he said.
According to Akpabio, the ruling confirmed the earlier suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, over what he described as unruly conduct during plenary sessions.
He noted that the court upheld the Senate’s right to maintain order, adding that any institution without discipline would descend into chaos. Akpabio also praised the judiciary for what he described as its firmness and clarity.
Earlier, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, said the judgment had strengthened the Senate’s internal disciplinary framework, stressing that parliamentary autonomy and separation of powers had been reinforced.
The legal dispute arose after Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged the Senate’s disciplinary process at the Federal High Court in Abuja. While the court acknowledged the Senate’s powers under its rules, it faulted the length of her suspension, describing it as excessive.
The Court of Appeal’s decision has now affirmed the Senate’s authority to discipline its members in line with its standing orders.
