The National Assembly has rejected Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s request to resume her legislative duties, citing a pending court case related to her six-month suspension.
Despite the suspension’s expiration, the Senate insisted that the matter remained subjudice and cannot be resolved until the Court of Appeal delivers its verdict ¹.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was suspended on March 6, 2025, following allegations of insubordination after a heated exchange with Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary.
The dispute reportedly stemmed from disagreements over seating arrangements in the Red Chamber.
In a letter dated September 4, 2025, and signed by Acting Clerk to the National Assembly Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, the Senate stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension remained in force until the Court of Appeal delivers judgment.
The letter reads in part: “The subject matter of your suspension is presently before the Court of Appeal.
”The matter therefore remains subjudice and until the judicial process is completed, and the Senate formally reviews the suspension in light of the court’s pronouncement, no administrative action can be taken by this office to facilitate your resumption”, it further stated
Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier attempted to resume her duties on July 12, following a Federal High Court judgment asking the Senate to review her suspension.
However, she was denied access to the National Assembly, and both parties have appealed portions of the judgment, which is currently pending before the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, former lawmaker Shehu Sani weighed in on the matter, stating that the Senate’s tactics imply that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resumption could not be guaranteed.
“If the pending court issues have to be resolved before the Kogi senator resumes, then the resumption has no date,” Sani wrote.
