The Senate has issued a fresh warning to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, urging her to refrain from resuming legislative duties until her suspension officially expires or is lawfully overturned.
Dockaysworld reports that the warning was conveyed in a statement on Sunday by Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu.
According to Adaramodu, there is “no enforceable order” compelling the Senate to lift the suspension ahead of time. He cautioned that any attempt by the Kogi Central senator to return to plenary this Tuesday would “undermine the dignity of the Senate and violate due process.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier declared her intention to resume on July 22, citing a July 4 Federal High Court ruling which described her six-month suspension as “excessive”. The lawmaker was suspended on March 6, 2025, following a dramatic confrontation in the Senate chamber involving a seating arrangement. The Senate had changed her sitting position, a move she claimed was intended to silence her. Recall that the lawmaker had earlier levelled an allegation of sexual misconduct against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, an accusation Akpabio has denied.
The Senate, through its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, found Akpoti-Uduaghan in breach of Standing Orders, accusing her of speaking without recognition, failing to take her assigned seat, and engaging in “unruly and disruptive conduct.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan eventually sued the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, challenging her suspension.
Following the court’s judgment, the Senate President on July 14 filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, challenging the decision on 11 grounds. The appeal remains pending.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Akpoti-Uduaghan declared her resolve to resume during a constituency event on Saturday.
“I have pretty much two months more before the six months expire. However, I have written to the Senate again telling them that I’m resuming on the 22nd, which is on Tuesday, by the special grace of God,” she said.
“I will be there, because the court did make the decision on that. Now, they argue that it’s an order — it’s not an order, but it is a decision.”
She emphasised that, despite her suspension, she continued to fulfil her representational duties.
“Every senator has three major functions. Legislative — which is the creation of laws and review of treaties. Then we have oversight — which is to oversee ministers and agencies. And then the third is representation — which I’m doing.”
“Whereby I identify the problems and the challenges of my community, and I make sure I present them and have them captured in the federal budget. And I have done pretty well with that. Of course, I do miss putting up my bills there, but it didn’t stop me from working.”
However, the Senate maintains that the court’s ruling lacked any positive or mandatory directive ordering her reinstatement.
“It is therefore surprising and legally untenable that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, while on appeal and having filed a motion for stay against the valid and binding orders made against her, is attempting to act upon an imaginary order of recall that does not exist,” Adaramodu said.
“The Senate emphasizes once more: there is no enforceable order directing her immediate return to the chamber.”
The Senate, he added, would “at the appropriate time” review the court’s opinion on possible amendments to its Standing Orders and communicate its decision to the senator. Until then, the lawmaker is “respectfully advised to stay away from the Senate chambers and allow due process to run its full course.”
