Senate Blocks Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Return, Cites Ongoing Appeal

The National Assembly has rejected the request of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume her legislative duties after what she described as the completion of her six-month suspension.

In a letter signed by Yahaya Danzaria, on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, the Senate acknowledged receiving her notification of intent to return on September 4, 2025. However, it clarified that her suspension officially began on March 6, 2025, and would therefore expire on September 6, not September 4 as she claimed.

The Senate further stressed that the matter remains sub judice — under judicial consideration — and that no administrative action can be taken until the Court of Appeal delivers judgment on the case Akpoti-Uduaghan filed challenging her suspension. Until then, the suspension stands.

Her suspension, which began in March, stemmed from recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. It stripped her of aides, office privileges, and salaries. Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently maintained that her suspension was politically motivated, linking it to her petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment — a claim the Senate dismissed.

The embattled senator later challenged the suspension in court, where a controversial judgment found the sanction excessive but stopped short of ordering her reinstatement. Armed with that ruling, she attempted to resume legislative duties in July but was barred from entering the National Assembly complex and compelled to serve out the full term of her suspension.

With the six months now elapsed, many expected her unobstructed return in September. Her legal counsel, Victor Giwa, disclosed that although she is currently on vacation in London, she had already made arrangements to rejoin plenary when the Senate reconvenes on September 23.

“Actually, she’s ready to resume her term. She’s in London. Everything is in place, and the six months have expired. The only thing left is her resumption,” Giwa said, adding that Senate leadership was not expected to stand in her way. “We have been told that even the leadership of the Senate is ready to welcome her. So that’s the situation at the moment. There is no obstacle at all.”

However, the Senate’s latest decision suggests otherwise. It appears that the Senate remains determined to punish Akpoti-Uduaghan for as long as possible. The outcome of her appeal against the proprietary of the suspension has no bearing on the duration of the suspension — when it elapses, it elapses. And yet, the Senate continues to deliberately conflate distinct legal matters, creating hurdle after artificial hurdle in an attempt to resist the suspended Senator’s return. The irony, it must be noted, is that the Senate — those entrusted with molding the law — appear to be the very ones undermining its fair application.