By Henry Umoru
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP), representing Kogi Central, resumed plenary on the Nationwide Meeting on Tuesday.
Natasha, who rounded off her six-month suspension, formally resumed her seat within the senate on Tuesday at precisely 11:42 am.
She walked into the Senate chambers, made her solution to her seat, and after taking it, exchanged pleasantries with a couple of senators.
She was accompanied by a number of activists to the Senate, together with Convey Again Our Ladies campaigner Aisha Yesufu, who was noticed within the Senate gallery.
A number of of the lawmakers’ supporters, nonetheless, weren’t allowed into the Senate gallery.
Recall that on September 23, barely a couple of hours after her 2.05, the Senate Wing workplace was unsealed by the Sergeant at Arms of the Nationwide Meeting, together with mixed personnel of safety organisations. Yesterday, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan stormed the Nationwide Meeting and resumed duties.
Upon her resumption in September, Senator Natasha, who had been on suspension, remained resolute, insisting that she had no apology to tender.
Deputy Director of the Chamber’s Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, flanked by safety personnel, formally reopened Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing—Akpoti-Uduaghan’s workplace.
The transfer got here after her six-month suspension formally lapsed earlier this month.
Recall that the embattled then Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Akpoti-Uduaghan, was in March slammed with a six-month suspension by the Senate, which additionally barred her from collaborating in all actions of the tenth Senate over her alleged misconduct when she protested in opposition to the reassignment of her seat by Akpabio on February 20, 2025.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension led to September 2025, however she has been unable to renew her duties because of ongoing authorized points and continued opposition from the Senate management. Maybe due to the prolonged recess, we’ll see the way it performs out because the Senate resumes plenary periods.
Following her suspension, she took her case to the courts to vacate the suspension, as she was not profitable, and the Senate, on its half, spoke by its related officers, insisting that the matter has nothing to do with sexual allegations, however every part to do with Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s contravention of the Senate Standing Orders as amended.
Binta Nyako, Choose of the Federal Excessive Court docket, Abuja, in July, described the six-month suspension as extreme and unconstitutional, and thereafter ordered the Senate to recall the embattled Senator, citing that suspending a Senator for such a protracted interval would expose constituents to non-representation throughout that point.
Thereafter, she made an try and return to the Senate, however was denied entry, and the Senate stood its floor that she should serve her full time period.
Additionally recall that the Clerk to the Nationwide Meeting, CNA, Kamorudeen Ogunlana, wrote her by the Appearing Clerk to NASS, Yahaya Danzaria, who notified her that her six-month suspension subsists till the Court docket of Enchantment delivers judgment within the go well with she instituted in opposition to the Senate.
On September 11, Counsel to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Michael Jonathan Numa, SAN, wrote to the Clerk of the Nationwide Meeting, CNA Kamorudeen Ogunlana, to recall the Senator in order that she might resume her legislative duties.
In accordance with Numa within the letter, the CNA ought to observe that failure to conform by Monday, fifteenth September 2025, will go away them with no different however to provoke proceedings in opposition to you personally and in your official capability. Such proceedings will embrace, however should not restricted to: Committal for contempt; Disciplinary motion for breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers; Legal responsibility for instigating breach of the peace with potential implications for nationwide safety; and every other cures out there to our consumer below the legislation.
Responding to the letter by her lawyer, the CNA, Ogunlana, urged the general public to stay affected person and permit the suitable establishments – together with the Senate and the courts – to discharge their constitutional obligations in respect of the resumption of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In accordance with him, he doesn’t possess the authority to evaluation, reverse or interpret Senate choices in opposition to the backdrop that his workplace serves strictly as an administrative arm, offering assist to the Senate in accordance with their resolutions, Standing Orders and the provisions of the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
In a press release signed by the Director, Info for the Clerk to the Nationwide Meeting, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, he stated that Ogunlana is due to this fact not ready to facilitate her resumption at the moment, simply as he famous that It have to be emphasised that the dedication of whether or not Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan can resume her legislative duties as of proper with none additional or contemporary decision of the Senate following the expiration of her six months suspension lies solely with the Senate and never with the workplace of the CNA.
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