Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senator representing Kogi Central in the Senate is uncertain on her planned resumption at the Senate on Tuesday, July 22.
The Nigerian Senate has issued a stern warning to the suspended lawmaker, to stay away from its proceedings, saying she could not resume proceedings yet.
The spokesman for the Senate, Yemi Adaramodu, in a statement on Sunday, insisted that there was no subsisting court order mandating the Senate to recall the lawmaker before the expiration of her suspension.
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Straightnews recalls that Natasha was suspended in March 2025 for violating Senate rules after a seat arrangement brawl with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of sexual misconduct, an allegation Akpabio denied.
The suspended lawmaker, who relied on a recent judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had recently vowed to resume Senate proceedings on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
The Senate spokesman stated that the judgment did not contain any positive or mandatory order directing the Senate to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan prior to the end of her suspension.
“It is therefore surprising and legally untenable that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, while on appeal and having filed a motion for stay against the valid and binding orders made against her, is attempting to act upon an imaginary order of recall that does not exist,” Adaramodu said.
This was after Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, had vowed to resume plenary on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in line with a court decision, despite an appeal filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio challenging the ruling.
In an interview while in her constituency for a training programme on Saturday, Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed she had written to the Senate to formally announce her intention to return.
“I have pretty much two months more before the six months expire. However, I have written to the Senate again telling them that I’m resuming on the 22nd, which is on Tuesday, by the special grace of God.
“I will be there, because the court did make the decision on that. Now, they argue that it’s an order, it’s not an order, but it is a decision,” she said.
In reechoing same stand for her, Aisha Yesufu, a socio-political activist, stated that she and others would accompany Akpoti-Uduaghan to the National Assembly, asserting that the embattled senator had every right to resume office following a court judgement.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Yesufu accused the Senate of disobeying court orders while also criticising the judiciary for yielding to political influence and no longer serving as the last hope of the common man.
“I think Senator Natasha has every right to resume office, and by tomorrow — she is not going to resume alone. There are people who are going to go with her, and I’ll be one of them.
“We’ll be with her and stand with her. And if the Senate decides they are going to kill us, let them kill us.
“We are not even one-third. Out of 109 senators, we have only four women. Yet you go after them — you’re going after this particular lady who has done nothing other than discharge her duty the way it should be. Enough of us being treated in this country as if we are second-class citizens,” she stated.
“The suspension by the Senate is unconstitutional. It’s unlawful. It should never have happened in the first place — especially coming from an institution supposed to uphold the constitution.
“The court didn’t stop Natasha from going in, so she has a right to resume office. The court has ruled that the whole suspension is unconstitutional. The Senate didn’t make Natasha a senator — her people did — and there’s no way you can deprive them of their representation.
“There was a ruling telling them to halt the suspension process, but they didn’t obey. The Senate is sending a message to Nigerians that it can act with impunity and disregard court rulings.
“The judiciary, which should be the last hope of the common man, is now a pawn in the hands of corrupt politicians. Even when a judgement is delivered, the judiciary now looks at the body language of those dictating what should be written,” the activist said.
Mgbeke Reacts
However, a US-based Lady and media scientist, Dr. Sandra Duru writing on her social media derided her stance thus ‘‘When desperate people conspire to deport a woman they can’t decode, they reveal their ignorance, not her weakness.
‘‘They thought they were setting up a grand exit, but unknowingly prepared a triumphant return case without a single clue about her true identity, her legitimate grounds, and the unyielding power she walks with.
‘‘You don’t plot against a force that’s already ten steps ahead.
They failed again. And this time, the shame is heavier than the trap they set.’’
