Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, failed to return to the Senate on Tuesday as earlier promised, despite a Federal High Court ruling last Friday that nullified her six-month suspension.
In addition to missing the planned resumption, Akpoti-Uduaghan also did not issue a public apology in two national newspapers or on her Facebook page, as ordered by the court.
In a viral video shared after the ruling, the senator had assured her jubilant supporters that she would resume her legislative duties in the Red Chamber on Tuesday. She also thanked her constituents “for standing by her” following the favourable court judgement that reaffirmed her Senate membership.
However, amid heightened expectations of her return, Senate leadership announced it would not take any formal steps regarding her status until it had reviewed the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court’s decision.
Security presence was noticeably intensified at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday, with heavy traffic stretching to the Federal Secretariat intersection. While officials insisted the increased security was unrelated to Akpoti-Uduaghan, incoming vehicles were thoroughly checked and occupants asked to state their purpose.
When the senator failed to appear as promised, speculation swirled that she had been warned by Senate leadership to stay away. This suspicion was fueled by a letter circulating on social media, allegedly from the Senate’s legal counsel, suggesting that the court ruling did not equate to a binding order overturning her suspension.
The letter, dated July 5, 2025, reportedly advised Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsel, J.S. Okutepa (SAN), to discourage her from resuming legislative duties until the court’s enrolled order was officially issued. It also warned that her return could trigger unrest in the Senate chamber.
But the lawyer allegedly linked to the letter, Paul Daudu—counsel for the Senate in the suspension case—denied authorship. In a Facebook post, Daudu refuted the claims.
“Dear members of the public, please ignore the purported open letter written to J.S. Okutepa (SAN) making the rounds on social media.
“It is unsigned and not issued by me. I do not know the source of that letter.”
He also described the use of his law firm’s name in the letter as a misrepresentation and referred to Okutepa as “his father and mentor in the legal profession”.
Last Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja declared Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension excessive, unconstitutional, and an infringement on the rights of her constituents. It ordered her immediate recall to the Senate.
However, the court also fined her N5 million for contempt, citing a Facebook post that violated an earlier gag order. The court deemed the post—a satirical apology to Senate President Godswill Akpabio—as a “mock apology”.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March following a heated plenary session during which she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.
The suspension sparked widespread criticism from civil society and human rights groups. She subsequently sued the Senate, claiming her removal was an attempt to silence her and disenfranchise her constituents.
In court, her legal team argued that the April 27 Facebook post was unrelated to the suspension case and instead addressed her misconduct claims against Akpabio. Justice Binta Nyako disagreed, ruling that the post was linked to the ongoing case and therefore violated the court’s directive.
The judge ordered that Akpoti-Uduaghan issue a public apology within seven days, stating that the apology must be published in two national dailies and reposted on her Facebook page. As of Tuesday evening, however, she had yet to comply with this directive.
Meanwhile, the Senate is moving to amend its internal disciplinary rules. Just four days after the judgement, it introduced a bill aimed at strengthening the legislative framework on sanctions.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Shehu Kaka, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, is titled the “Legislative Houses (Powers & Privileges) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 708).”
The current law does not specify durations for suspension or disciplinary action, and the proposed amendment seeks to close that gap by clearly defining timelines and sanctions for erring members.
When contacted, Kaka explained the bill aims to refine the law by adding “required specifics” to disciplinary procedures.
“The amendments we are seeking aim to clarify and strengthen disciplinary provisions, especially with respect to the duration of sanctions imposed on erring members,” he stated.
The bill is expected to be listed for a second reading during Wednesday’s plenary session.
At the same time, Senate insiders confirmed that the certified true copy of the Federal High Court judgement would be made available on Wednesday. The document is expected to ease tensions and guide the Senate’s next steps in resolving the matter.
