Natasha To Consult Legal Team, Request Court Clarification Following Senate Blockade

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has vowed to consult her legal team and take further legal steps after being denied entry into the National Assembly on Tuesday, despite a valid court order directing her reinstatement.

The senator, who was suspended by the Senate for six months earlier this year, had planned to resume her legislative duties following a Federal High Court ruling that nullified her suspension. Justice Binta Nyako had ruled in her favour, declaring the suspension invalid. However, upon her arrival at the National Assembly complex, security operatives barred her from entering.

Speaking to journalists after the incident, Akpoti-Uduaghan condemned the Senate’s actions, describing them as a blatant disregard for the judiciary and rule of law.

“Senate President Godswill Akpabio is not above the Nigerian Constitution,” she stated.

“My legitimacy as a senator does not come from the Office of the Senate President but from the people of Kogi who elected me. The fact that an appeal has been filed does not invalidate the court’s ruling. I remain a duly elected senator.”

She further criticized the Senate leadership, saying, “Today’s events speak volumes. It is now on record that under Akpabio’s leadership, the National Assembly has chosen to flout a court order. It’s ironic—and deeply troubling—that lawmakers are acting in contempt of the law. It raises serious questions about the state of our democracy.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan also questioned the legality of her initial suspension. “From the beginning, the suspension was baseless—the documentation itself was flawed,” she asserted.

Looking ahead, she confirmed plans to escalate the matter legally. “I will meet with my legal team so we can approach the appellate court for clarification on today’s events. I am a law-abiding citizen, and I believe in the rule of law.”

As of the time of this report, the Senate leadership had not issued any public statement regarding the court ruling or Tuesday’s incident.