Nigeria’s Senate and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan are now at the heart of a confrontation that threatens more than institutional pride—it challenges our nation’s commitment to constitutional order.
Last week, the Federal High Court ruled that the Senate’s six-month suspension of Senator Natasha was “unconstitutional and excessive.” The court ordered her reinstatement, but also imposed a ₦5 million fine for what it described as a contemptuous, satirical apology by the Senator. In response, the Senate has refused her resumption, citing non-compliance with the spirit of the judgment.
Yet, this is not how democratic institutions ought to resolve conflict.
The Rule Is Simple: Obey First, Appeal Later
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oba Maduabuchi, offered the clearest legal interpretation: “Obey court orders first, even if you believe they are wrong.” In other words, Nigeria’s constitutional framework doesn’t permit selective obedience to judicial rulings. If the Senate disagrees with the judgment, the pathway is appeal, not defiance.
This standard isn’t about personalities or politics. It’s about the core tenet of democracy: the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law. When any arm of government refuses to abide by a court order, it chips away at this foundation.
At the same time, Senator Natasha’s conduct is neither beyond scrutiny nor immune to consequence. A court-mandated apology is a solemn instruction, not a stage for performance art. Her satirical apology on social media did not only mock the Senate, but also diminished the dignity of the judiciary that issued the directive.
A fine of ₦5 million is not merely punitive, it is symbolic. It signals that even the most aggrieved parties must comport themselves with respect when seeking justice under the law.
This conflict is no longer about Senator Natasha. It is now a litmus test of whether Nigeria’s institutions will obey the rules they expect citizens to follow. Will the legislature recognize judicial supremacy? Will a senator respect the corrective measures of the judiciary?
If the Senate delays or denies compliance, it sets a dangerous precedent for other institutions to undermine court orders they dislike. If Natasha continues to weaponize satire instead of civility, she trivializes the very justice system that reinstated her.
This moment calls for maturity on both sides.
Let the Senate obey the court and reinstate its member as ordered. Let Senator Natasha issue a genuine apology, not for political appeasement, but to affirm respect for the bench and for the citizens she represents.
Nigeria’s democracy is not tested in times of peace, but in moments of disagreement. How our institutions behave now will echo far beyond this standoff. Let us choose rule of law over ego, and justice over spectacle.