Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), yesterday resumed office at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, after serving out her six months suspension.
She resumed a few hours after her office, located at suite 2.05, Senate wing, was unsealed by the Deputy Director of Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji.
Recall that the Senate had in March suspended Natasha for six months over alleged misconduct and refusal to comply with the chamber’s sitting arrangement during plenary on February 20, 2025. But the senator approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, to seek redress.
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The court ruled that the Senate acted beyond its powers by suspending Senator Natasha for six months and ordered for her recall. Justice Binta Nyako, who delivered the judgement, described the duration of the suspension as “excessive” and without a clear legal foundation.
But Senate President Godswill Akpabio, had appealed the judgement. Since then Natasha had been trying to resume plenary, but the Senate consistently blocked her, warning her to stay away.
A recent letter signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, argued that her suspension began on March 6, 2025, and remains in force until the Court of Appeal ruled on the matter.
But yesterday, Natasha resumed office after it was reopened by the
Deputy Director of Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji.
‘I wasn’t officially notified’
In a short interview with newsmen on resumption of office, Natasha said she was not officially notified of the reopening of her office, and wondered why the Senate didn’t inform her of the development.
“I have not been officially communicated. The last communication I received from the National Assembly was that I will not be allowed access; I will not be allowed to resume because the matter was still pending at the Appeal court.
“So, I’m still awaiting the letter because it’s very important to understand the conditions that they might set illegally concerning this opening of my office because I read it in the news,” she said.
The Kogi lawmaker said there are reports that the Senate leadership had met and resolved that at resumed plenary on October 7, she would be asked to apologise to the Senate.
She, however, said, “If they are expecting me to apologise, I’m sorry, I don’t have those words. And if that is the condition for opening this office, then I think we have a long dance to make.
“I’m actually worried as to what apology they expect from me. You can’t apologise for an injustice, and may I remind the good people of Nigeria that the document that led to my illegal suspension, which is the recommendation which Senator Maxwell read, was actually written by the office of the Senate President.
“So this is just one illegality upon the other and I think in Nigeria, we should reject such things. I think it’s actually appalling that such an amount of illegality and fraud happens in the National Assembly,” Natasha said.
“It’s very unfortunate that at this time after so many years of democracy, we have a National Assembly being run with such a level of dictatorship; it’s totally unacceptable,” she added.
Supporters tear-gassed
Meanwhile, supporters and constituents who gathered at the National Assembly gate to welcome Senator Natasha were not allowed entry and later tear-gassed by security operatives.
Eyewitnesses say security agents used tear gas to control the crowd, while several people were said to have sustained injuries in the process.
“It was supposed to be a historic return for her, but it turned into a nightmare,” one of the eye witnesses told our correspondent.
Observers described the scene as tense, pointing to the heavy deployment of security personnel and the use of crowd-control measures during what was intended to be a peaceful procession.
