It was not until the Certified True Copy (CTC) of Justice Binta Nyako’s judgment in the case instituted by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate was released that Nigerians knew how controversial the verdict was.
In her judgment, the judge described the suspension as “excessive” and faulted the provision of Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules, as well as Section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act. He declared both as overreaching.
According to her, since lawmakers have a total of 181 days to sit in every legislative cycle, the six-month suspension handed to Akpoti-Uduaghan was akin to pushing her away from her responsibilities to her constituents for about 180 days.