Senate Warns Suspended Senator Natasha Against Forceful Retutrn

The Nigerian Senate has issued a stern warning to the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, advising her not to attempt resuming legislative duties on Tuesday.

In a statement released on Sunday, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, stressed that no valid court order currently mandates her reinstatement.

“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to reaffirm, for the third time, that there is no subsisting court order mandating the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before the expiration of her suspension,” Adaramodu said.

This clarification comes in response to media reports quoting Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as saying she planned to return to the Senate based on a Federal High Court judgment by Justice Binta Nyako.

Adaramodu reiterated that after reviewing both the court ruling and the certified true copy of the enrolled order, the Senate found no binding directive compelling it to lift the suspension. Instead, he said, the court merely offered an advisory opinion suggesting the Senate consider reviewing its standing orders and reassessing the suspension, which it deemed possibly excessive.

He added that the court explicitly ruled that the Senate did not violate any law or constitutional provision in disciplining the senator for misconduct during plenary.

Furthermore, Adaramodu revealed that the same court found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in contempt and imposed sanctions, including a ₦5 million fine payable to the Federal Government and a public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page—requirements that have reportedly not been fulfilled.

“It is surprising and legally unfounded that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, despite appealing the court ruling and filing for a stay of execution, is now acting on a non-existent recall order,” Adaramodu said.

He cautioned that any attempt by the senator to forcibly enter the Senate chambers on Tuesday would be seen as premature, disruptive, and a violation of legislative procedures.

“The Senate will, at the appropriate time, review the court’s advisory on the standing orders and her suspension and communicate its decision accordingly,” the statement concluded.

“Until then, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is respectfully advised to refrain from entering the Senate chambers and to allow due process to take its course.”