Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has explained her decision to delay her return to the Senate, following a recent court ruling that nullified her six-month suspension. Speaking in an interview with African Independent Television (AIT), the lawmaker said her move was based on legal advice and a desire to follow due process while awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Federal High Court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that her decision does not reflect inactivity. “I remained active throughout my suspension,” she said, highlighting numerous constituency projects she has executed during her absence from plenary. These include the installation of solar-powered streetlights, the groundbreaking of smart markets across local governments, and the distribution of hundreds of laptops to students at Meseta Memorial College. She also noted progress on her flagship legislative initiative, the Gold Reserve Bill, with plans to introduce further bills on lithium and red mineral resources.
Despite the Federal High Court’s ruling declaring her suspension “excessive” and unconstitutional, controversy continues to swirl around her full reinstatement. Legal counsel for the Senate, Paul Daudu, SAN, reportedly opined that the ruling lacks a direct order mandating the Senate to reinstate her. This legal grey area has contributed to the ongoing delay and heightened tensions around the National Assembly, where her anticipated resumption last Tuesday saw an unusual presence of security personnel and operational vehicles.
In her remarks, the Senator criticized the ongoing restrictions placed on her legislative functions. “By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central—it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan reaffirmed her commitment to her constituents and to national development, vowing to continue delivering on her mandate, whether inside or outside the Red Chamber. “I believe in the judiciary. I’m not giving up,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to immediately comply with the court’s ruling and facilitate her return to the National Assembly. In a statement shared on its official X account, the group condemned her suspension as a serious breach of the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights obligations.
“She should never have been suspended in the first place,” the statement read. “The Senate leadership must obey the court order, reinstate Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and fully restore all her legislative rights, entitlements, and privileges.”
SERAP urged the Senate to set a national example by respecting judicial decisions and reinforcing the rule of law. “The integrity of Nigeria’s legal system depends on institutions honoring court rulings. The Senate must act in accordance with the Constitution and international standards,” the group stated.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, had ruled on Friday that the six-month suspension violated both constitutional provisions and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act. The court criticized the vagueness of the Senate Standing Rules and related laws, stating they failed to set reasonable limits for disciplinary actions. Given that Nigerian lawmakers are constitutionally mandated to sit for 181 days annually, the court ruled that denying Akpoti-Uduaghan nearly the entire legislative calendar was an unjust deprivation of representation for her constituents
