Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to Rejoin Senate Following Conclusion of Suspension
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, is slated to return to the National Assembly later this month after completing her six-month suspension, according to her lawyer, Victor Giwa.
Currently on vacation in London, the senator is poised to resume her duties when plenary reconvenes on Tuesday, September 23. Giwa confirmed, “Everything is in place, and the six months have expired. The only thing left is her resumption,” and further added that Senate leadership is expected to welcome her back unimpeded.
The suspension, which began on March 6, resulted from allegations of insubordination, specifically, her refusing to occupy a reassigned seat in the chamber during plenary. Based on recommendations from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, the decision also stripped her of her aides, office privileges, and salary.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan maintains that her punishment was linked to a petition she filed accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—an accusation the Senate dismissed.
Though she challenged the suspension in court and obtained a judgment favouring her recall, Senate leadership insisted she remain suspended until the full six-month term elapsed.
In a bold move to assert her mandate, the senator attempted to re-enter the National Assembly building in July. However, she was physically blocked by security forces despite a crowd of supporters that had gathered outside.
With the suspension now officially ended as of Saturday, September 6, Giwa said that the remaining legal cases would no longer pose a barrier, describing them as “like an academic exercise.” He emphasized that all logistics are arranged for her return.