Senator Natasha Set to Resume After Six-Month Suspension

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, is expected to return to the National Assembly later this month after completing her six-month suspension, her lawyer has confirmed.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, her counsel Victor Giwa disclosed that the senator is currently in London but has already made plans to resume plenary alongside her colleagues when the Senate reconvenes on September 23.

“Actually she is ready to resume her term. She is in London. Everything is in place and the six months have expired. The only thing left is her resumption” Giwa said.

He added that the Senate leadership is not expected to obstruct her return. “We have been told that even the leadership of the Senate is ready to welcome her. So that is the situation at the moment. There is no obstacle at all” he assured.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6 following allegations of insubordination after she rejected a change of her designated seat during plenary. The suspension, based on recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges and Public Petitions, also stripped her of aides, office privileges and salaries.

The lawmaker has consistently argued that her ordeal was linked to her petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim the Senate dismissed. She later challenged her suspension in court and secured a judgment which she said favoured her recall. However, the Senate leadership insisted that she would remain suspended until the penalty expired.

Her attempt to return to the chamber in July ended in a standoff as security operatives barred her entry despite a crowd of supporters rallying outside. With the suspension having elapsed last Saturday, her lawyer maintained that pending legal disputes would not hinder her return,

“Everything will be resolved. Even the court cases will become like an academic exercise” Giwa noted.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Senate leadership were unsuccessful as calls and messages to Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu and to Akpabio’s media aide were not answered.