The Senate has reopened the office of the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, signaling her return to the Red Chamber when plenary resumes on October 7.
Her office at the Senate Wing was unlocked on Tuesday, September 23, by the Deputy Director of the Sergeant at Arms, Alabi Adedeji, after being sealed for six months.
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Witnesses confirmed that security operatives and officials of the Sergeant at Arms supervised the unsealing.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, after the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions accused her of breaching Senate rules during a protest over the reassignment of her seat by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
She was barred from the National Assembly and stripped of salaries, aides’ emoluments, and other entitlements.
Her suspension drew legal and public scrutiny. In July, Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja ruled that the six-month sanction was unconstitutional and ordered her recall, noting that the measure denied constituents of Kogi Central representation. Despite the ruling, the Senate refused to comply and insisted Natasha serve her full suspension.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamorudeen Ogunlana, later maintained that his office lacked authority to override the Senate decisions. Acting Clerk Yahaya Danzaria also told the lawmaker in writing that her suspension would stand until the Court of Appeal decides on her case.
On September 18, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) faulted the Senate’s decision to block Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming after the expiration of her suspension. The NBA President Afam Osigwe, a senior advocate, stressed that a pending appeal could not prevent her from returning to her seat, adding that denying her entry would deprive her constituents of representation.
Prominent lawyer Femi Falana also accused the Senate leadership of disobeying court orders and undermining the rule of law.