The Digest:
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has approached the Court of Appeal to reverse a judgment that ordered the reinstatement of suspended Kogi Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. This legal challenge explores the contentious boundary between parliamentary autonomy and judicial oversight, engaging a fundamental constitutional debate on the powers and privileges of the National Assembly.
Key Points:
- Senate President Akpabio is appealing a Federal High Court order to reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
- The court had fined Akpoti-Uduaghan N5 million for contempt related to a social media post.
- Akpabio's legal team argues the matter is an internal parliamentary affair, shielded from judicial review.
- The suspended senator had also filed an appeal challenging the N5 million contempt fine.
- A three-member appellate court panel has reserved judgment after hearing arguments from both sides.
- The lower court had earlier declared the senator's six-month suspension unconstitutional.
- The appeal questions whether courts can intervene in the Senate's disciplinary procedures.
Sources: Leadership Newspapers, Vanguard
