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The proclivity of elected officials to use the law to serve only their purpose and that of the strong against the weak in the society remains a dangerous threat to the survival of our democracy.

The laws of the land seem tar­geted only at the poor and the weak, while those who are high­ly placed can get away with even murder.

It is indeed difficult to tell the place of the rule of law or its su­premacy in a society where sup­posedly democratically elected officials who swore to uphold the constitution flagrantly disregard the laws of the country in their quest to stamp their superiority over others.

How does an institution such as the legislature, the very cra­dle of democracy and the rule of law, conveniently ignore a court order and still use the same court process and technicality as an excuse for denying someone jus­tice? More like saying they can determine what laws to obey and which to spurn?

The standoff between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Nigerian Senate is a clear case of a supposedly democrat­ically elected officials using an institution, in this case the legis­lature, to overreach themselves in a bid to prove their disdain for the law and a contempt for the ju­diciary and the rule of law.

The Senate had suspend­ed Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central for six months and in July she had written the Senate reaffirming her intention to resume duties at the Senate on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in compliance with a court ruling —despite an appeal lodged by Senate President Godswill Ak­pabio.

The embattled lawmaker was physically blocked from entering the National Assembly complex on Tuesday, 22 July, 2025, just days after the Federal High Court ruled that the legal provisions on which her suspension was based were excessive and were not in line with constitutional provi­sions.

In the judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, the Federal High Court held that the provi­sions of Chapter 8 of the Senate Rules and Section 14(2) of the Legislative House (Powers & Privileges) Act which allow for indefinite suspension of legis­lative members are at variance with the intendment of the Con­stitution. Section 14(2) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017 authorises legislative houses to suspend members found in contempt, de­priving them of access and com­pensation, though the duration must not outlast the current leg­islative session.

The judge, however, found her in contempt of court for a Face­book post that breached an earli­er gag order on public comments about the case. The penalty was a ₦5 million fine and a mandatory apology on social media and in two national dailies.

Recall that the Senate had ear­lier ignored an interim order on March 4 by Justice Egwuatu of the Federal High Court which re­strained the Senate from proceed­ing with the disciplinary action against her.

However, in a July 14th letter to her legal team, the National As­sembly’s Director of Litigation, Charles Yoila, described the rul­ing as “declaratory” meaning, in their view, it’s a suggestion, not a command. The letter claims the judgment merely acknowledged that her constituents deserve representation but didn’t legally compel her return. Whether or not the suspension is lifted, the Senate says, is entirely at its dis­cretion.

Now after completing her six months suspension, March 6 to September 6, she wrote the Na­tional Assembly notifying it of her intention to resume her legis­lative functions as a duly elected member, and the Senate replied to her alleging subjudice as reason for denying her resumption.

The National Assembly re­jected the Senator’s plan, stating that her six-month suspension remains in force pending the out­come of a Court of Appeal case instituted against the Senate by Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In a letter issued by the Act­ing Clerk to the National Assem­bly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, dated September 4, 2025, the Senate ac­knowledged Akpoti-Uduaghan’s notification of her intended re­turn on September 4, the date she claimed marked the end of her suspension.

However, the Senate clarified that her suspension took effect on March 6, 2025, and emphasised that the matter is still subjudice.

The Senate insisted that no ad­ministrative action can be taken until the Court of Appeal delivers a verdict.

The letter stated that the Senate would only review her suspension after the court’s pro­nouncement.

“The matter remains sub­judice, and until the judicial process is concluded, no admin­istrative action can be taken to facilitate your resumption,” the letter read in part.

How is it that the same Senate that has treated the judiciary and the courts with contempt from the beginning of this standoff is now basing the justification of its lawlessness on the outcome of an appeal before the court?

How is it that the Assembly is claiming that allowing her resume would amount to subju­dice when the same Assembly ig­nored an interim order which re­strained it from proceeding with its disciplinary action against her? Again, if as it claimed Jus­tice Binta Nyako’s judgement against the suspension was mere­ly a suggestion not a command to legally compel her return, did Justice Nyako’s statement that the punishment was too punitive for the offence committed and that the duration must not outlast the current legislative session, according to its rule also ambig­uous? If the court had ruled that six months was too much for the offence, why is the Senate seeking through the backdoor to extend the punishment all in the name of an unresolved appeal?

The National Assembly cannot pretend to regard the law when in actual fact it does not. This is a clear case of dictatorship and in total disregard to the Kogi Central people that the Senator represents and the rule of law.

As it is, it’s our judiciary that is being assaulted and the su­premacy of the law that is being rubbished by a group of people who, ironically, are supposed to be lawmakers.

This barefaced tyranny must be resisted because it simply does not bode well for democracy. No single person or persons or as in this case, an institution can pride itself as being above the law. The National Assembly is just an arm of government and it cannot ar­rogate to itself powers not envis­aged in the Constitution of the country.

After all said and done we all know this is not about the vio­lation of any Assembly rules but the bruising of the ego of a bunch of strong men who see themselves as being above the law.

If after serving her six months suspension Senator Akpoti-Udu­aghan is denied resumption to the National Assembly then it’s a clear indication that she is be­ing punished not for breaking the rules of the National Assembly but for breaking the hearts of Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President.

Because if the former is the case she has duly served her sus­pension but if the latter is the case then her suspension may as well last for as long as it takes Senator Akpabio’s heart to heal. Simple!