The National Assembly has stated that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, cannot yet resume legislative duties, despite the expiration of her six-month suspension.
In a letter dated September 4, 2025, and signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, the Senate acknowledged receiving Akpoti-Uduaghan’s notice of intent to return to office on the same day. She argued that her suspension, imposed on March 6, had officially lapsed.
However, the Senate maintained that her suspension remains in effect, citing a pending case at the Court of Appeal filed by the senator herself. According to the letter, no administrative action can be taken until the judiciary delivers a final verdict on the matter.
“The matter remains sub judice, and until the judicial process is concluded, no administrative action can be taken to facilitate your resumption,” the letter stated.
The Senate emphasized that the question of her return would only be reconsidered after the court issues its ruling.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, over alleged insubordination, after she reportedly defied a directive to change her seat during plenary. The suspension, based on the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, also revoked her access to official privileges, including staff, office space, and remuneration.
The senator has consistently maintained that her suspension was politically motivated, linking it to a petition she filed against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in which she accused him of sexual harassment—an allegation the Senate has since dismissed.
Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged her suspension in court and claimed to have secured a judgment supporting her recall. However, the legal dispute remains unresolved at the appellate level.
In July, a dramatic scene unfolded at the National Assembly when the senator attempted to re-enter the premises. Despite being accompanied by a crowd of supporters, security operatives blocked her entry, escalating tensions at the complex.
