The Nigerian Senate has issued a stern warning to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, advising her to refrain from returning to the National Assembly until her suspension is officially lifted.
This comes after the senator declared her intention to resume plenary duties on Tuesday, July 22, stating she had formally informed the Senate of her planned return. “I have about two months left before the six-month suspension expires,” she said in an interview, adding that she had written to the Senate notifying them of her intended resumption.
However, Senate spokesperson and Chairman of the Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, in a statement on Sunday, refuted any claims of a valid court order compelling the Senate to lift her suspension. He insisted that due process must be followed.
“The Senate wishes to reaffirm—once again—that there is no existing court order compelling the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before her suspension term ends,” Adaramodu said.
He clarified that the court had only offered a non-binding advisory, suggesting the Senate might consider reviewing the suspension and potentially amending its Standing Orders. The court did not, however, rule that any constitutional provision had been violated in the imposition of the disciplinary action.
Furthermore, Adaramodu pointed out that the same court found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in contempt of court, imposing a ₦5 million fine and ordering her to publish a public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page—orders she has allegedly not complied with.
“It is surprising and legally unfounded that the senator, who has filed an appeal and a motion for stay of execution on those penalties, is now attempting to act as though a court directive mandates her return. No such order exists,” he said.
The Senate warned that any attempt by Akpoti-Uduaghan to forcibly re-enter the chamber would be seen as disruptive and a violation of legislative procedures.
“At the appropriate time, the Senate will consider the court’s advisory regarding its rules and the senator’s recall, and communicate any decision directly to her. Until then, she is respectfully advised to stay away and allow due process to take its course,” the statement concluded.
