Since Nigeria’s fourth Republic began in 1999, the senate has suspended multiple senators for misconduct or protocol violations, with at least two successfully challenging their suspensions in court.
In the history of Nigeria, there have been many political turmoil with many crises either escalating or remaining unresolved. One such issue is the suspension of senators in the upper legislative chamber, a recurring controversy in the country’s politics.
Since the inception of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic in 1999, the senate has suspended several senators for various reasons, ranging from allegations of misconduct to violations of legislative protocols. At least two of them challenged their suspensions in court and won.
The most recent suspension was on Thursday, March 6, 2025 when the senate suspended Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged misconduct in the red chamber.
The decision followed the consideration and adoption of the report presented by Sena. Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, during plenary.
Below is a brief on these suspensions:
1. Femi Okurounmu (Ogun central) – 1999
The first senator to be suspended in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic was Femi Okurounmu, representing Ogun central under the Alliance of Democracy (AD) from 1999 to 2003. He was suspended in 1999 after alleging that some senators were planning to impeach then President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was later recalled after tendering an apology to the senate.
2. Joseph Waku (Benue north west) – 2000
In 2000, Sen. Joseph Waku faced suspension following controversial remarks suggesting that a military coup might be preferable to President Obasanjo‘s continued leadership, which he perceived as dictatorial. Waku criticised Obasanjo’s administration and described it as the worst in Nigeria’s history. His comments resulted in widespread condemnation and subsequent suspension by the senate. He died on February 3, 2019.
3. Arthur Nzeribe (Imo, Orlu district) – 2002
Sen. Arthur Nzeribe was indefinitely suspended in November 2002 over allegations of a ₦22 million fraud. At the time, he was reportedly orchestrating an impeachment motion against Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, leading to his suspension. He died in 2022 at the age of 83.
4. Isah Mohammed (Niger central) – 2004
In October 2004, Sen. Mohammed was suspended for two weeks after physically assaulting Sen. Iyabo Anisulowo outside the National Assembly lobby. The altercation was reportedly related to the disbursement of committee funds.
5. Ali Ndume (Borno south) – 2017
In March 2017, Sen. Ali Ndume was suspended for six months after raising a motion that led to investigations into allegations against Senate President Bukola Saraki and Sen. Dino Melaye, a former senator representing Kogi west.
He alleged that the senate was exacting vengeance on Hameed Ali, former comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), because of a seized bullet-proof car allegedly owned by Saraki. The Borno senator also demanded that Melaye be probed for certificate forgery. Saraki and Melaye were later cleared of the allegations by a senate panel. The senate’s committee on ethics and privileges found his actions to have caused “embarrassment” to the senate leadership.
However, after the suspension, Ndume approached the Federal High Court in Abuja over the matter. In November 2017, the court nullified the suspension and declared it “illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.” The court also ordered Saraki and the senate to pay the suspended senator all outstanding salaries and allowances.
6. Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta central) – 2018
In April 2018, Sen. Omo-Agege was suspended in 2018 for 90 legislative days after criticising the senate’s decision to amend the Electoral Act, which sought to reorder the sequence of elections. He was initially recommended to be suspended for 181 legislative days, but it was later reduced to 90 following pleas by then Senate President Saraki.
Although the lawmaker later apologised for his stand, he still went to court to get a restraining order against any move by the senate to suspend him. In May, the Federal High Court in Abuja thereafter nullified the suspension of Omo-Agege. While nullifying the suspension, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ruled that constitutional provisions only allowed the senate to suspend its members for a maximum of 14 days.
The judge then ruled that the decision to suspend Omo-Agege for 90 days was a nullity. The court nullified it with immediate effect and further ruled that all outstanding salaries and allowances be paid to him.
7. Abdul Ningi (Bauchi central) – 2024
Sen. Ningi was suspended for three months in 2024 after alleging that the National Assembly padded the 2024 budget by ₦3 trillion. He subsequently resigned as chairman of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF).
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8. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) – 2025
The most recent suspension occurred in March 2025, when Sen, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on the 6th of March, 2025, was suspended for six months over alleged misconduct in the senate.
One comment
Aladeokomo Babatunde Sunday
March 7, 2025 at 7:36 pm
If the constitution permits the national Assembly to suspend any erring legislator for 14 days only why is our Senate saddled with law making not submitting to the constitution they have sworn to defend. For all of these Assembly where members were suspended, from 1st to 10th they have all gone pass 14 days constitutional provision.
This is not good enough for our democracy and constituents who are always at the receiving end.