Natasha appealed judgment she lost to enforce non-existence recall order – Lawyer

A legal analyst, Dayo Fadugba, on Tuesday said the suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, appealed a judgement she lost while attempting to enforce a non-existent order of her recall.

Fadugba said contrary to misleading public narratives, Natasha lost all the reliefs she sought before the Abuja Federal High Court.

According to Fadugba: “I consider it a duty to draw the attention of the general public to the ongoing legal developments surrounding the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 4, 2025, in the case instituted by the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.”

The legal analyst said the Abuja Federal High Court dismissed the following claims Natasha had sought.

He said the court dismissed Natasha-Akpoti’s challenge to the Senate’s decision to invite her to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

Fadugba said, “Her objection to the reassignment of her seat in the Senate chamber.

“Her claim in seeking to speak from an unauthorised seat on the Senate floor. In dismissing this claim, the court held that she was in breach of the Senate Standing Orders when she attempted to invoke Order 10 (which is an order of privilege), whereas she had violated Order 6 (1) and (2) by refusing to speak from her newly assigned seat. This conduct was rightly held to be unparliamentary.

“Her argument that she cannot be disciplined by the Senate.”

The lawyer noted that all these claims were resolved against her, adding that most importantly, no positive or mandatory orders were issued by the court for her recall to the Senate.

In a statement he issued, Fadugba said: “Despite this judicial defeat, Senator Natasha was seen celebrating with her supporters, falsely suggesting that the court had ordered her recall. When the reality of the judgment became clear, she filed a Notice of Appeal against aspects of the decision she found unfavourable, particularly the direct orders of the court that found her guilty of contempt and imposed specific sanctions. The court ordered her to:

“Pay the sum of 5 million naira to the Federal Government;

“Pull down from her Facebook page a satirical and mocking post purporting to be an ‘apology’; and

“Publish a sincere apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page.

“To date, she has not complied with any of these clear and unequivocal orders. Instead, she now seeks to return to the Senate under the guise of enforcing a non-existent court order, falsely claiming that the obiter dicta of the Honourable Judge, mere judicial observations, constitute binding and enforceable directives. This distortion is legally flawed and grossly misrepresents the true state of the law and the facts.

“Even more troubling is the emerging pattern of converting serious judicial proceedings into social media content, prioritizing optics over substance and trivializing the gravity of legal accountability.”

Fadugba lamented that in response to this self-induced legal confusion, a cross-appeal and an interlocutory application were filed by the Senate.

The lawyer noted that these are aimed at preserving the dignity and independence of the Senate and preventing any disruptive consequences arising from the deliberate mischaracterisation of the court’s decision.

He further added: “It must be emphasised that this cross-appeal is not political. It is a constitutional safeguard, filed to affirm that Justice Nyako’s remarks suggesting a review of Senate Standing Orders or the recall of the Senator were merely advisory opinions (obiter dicta). They were not binding judicial orders, as they did not emanate from any of the reliefs sought by the Plaintiff and cannot, in law, be enforced.

“The public is hereby reminded that the Nigerian Senate remains committed to order, decorum, and the rule of law. It will not be railroaded or destabilised by media stunts or sensationalist narratives. Governance must proceed with focus and seriousness, unmarred by distractions.

“The Senate remains firmly focused on its legislative responsibilities and wholly supports President Bola Tinubu’s administration in its commitment to democratic governance and national development.”

Natasha appealed judgment she lost to enforce non-existence recall order – Lawyer