The suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, reneged on her promise to resume legislative duties on Tuesday, following a Friday judgment that nullified her six-month suspension by the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also failed to issue a public apology in two major newspapers and on her social media platforms, as ordered by the court.
In a video widely circulated on social media, the senator had assured her jubilant supporters that she would return to the Senate chamber on Tuesday. She expressed gratitude to her constituents for standing by her during the legal battle that reaffirmed her Senate position.
Following her declaration to attend Tuesday’s plenary, the Senate leadership said it would withhold official action pending a review of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court’s judgment.
Security was notably tightened at the National Assembly on Tuesday, with increased personnel presence and thorough searches of incoming vehicles extending to the Federal Secretariat intersection in Abuja. Authorities, however, denied any direct link between the heightened security and the suspended senator’s expected return.
Speculation grew that Akpoti-Uduaghan was advised by the Senate not to attend, based on a viral letter allegedly written by the Senate’s legal counsel. Dated July 5, 2025, the letter claimed that the Federal High Court’s ruling did not nullify her suspension and warned the senator’s lawyer against allowing her to resume without an official court order, citing risks of unrest in the chamber.
Paul Daudu, the Senate’s counsel in the case, debunked the letter, describing it as a forgery. In a public post on Facebook, Daudu stated, “Dear members of the public, please ignore the purported open letter written to J.S. Okutepa (SAN) making the rounds on social media. It is unsigned and not issued by me. I do not know the source of that letter.” He also criticized the misuse of his law firm’s name in the document and referred to Okutepa as his mentor.
The court ruling last Friday had declared the six-month suspension imposed on Akpoti-Uduaghan excessive, unconstitutional, and an infringement on her constituents’ rights, ordering her recall. However, the judge fined her N5 million for contempt of court over a Facebook post deemed to have violated an earlier court order. The senator was also ordered to publish a public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days—a directive she has yet to fulfill.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate in March following a heated plenary session in which she accused Senator Akpabio of sexual harassment. The suspension sparked outrage from civil society groups and human rights organizations, leading her to challenge the action in court, arguing it was an attempt to silence her and disenfranchise her constituents.
The contempt fine arose from a satirical Facebook post dated April 27, which the Senate president’s lawyers claimed violated a court gag order. The senator’s legal team countered that the post was unrelated to the suspension case and pertained to her allegations against the Senate president. Justice Binta Nyako disagreed, ruling the post was linked to the matter before the court.
In response to ongoing disciplinary controversies, the Senate has initiated steps to amend its internal rules to impose clearer and stiffer sanctions on erring members. This follows the first reading of the Legislative Houses (Powers & Privileges) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 708), sponsored by Senator Shehu Kaka, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties.
The bill aims to address gaps in existing laws, particularly regarding suspension durations, by introducing specific timelines and sanctions for disciplinary actions. Kaka explained that the amendments seek to “clarify and strengthen disciplinary provisions,” ensuring procedures are transparent and well-defined.
Given the urgency, the bill is expected to be scheduled for a second reading in plenary on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, sources within the Senate leadership indicated that the Certified True Copy of the court judgment would be released on Wednesday, a move anticipated to ease tensions and enable the Senate to determine its next course of action.
