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| Natasha Akpoti-Udauaghan. Photo: X/Natasha |
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, is expected to return to plenary today (Tuesday) after completing her six-month suspension from the Senate.
Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, confirmed the development in an interview with The PUNCH, assuring that the lawmaker would resume her legislative duties alongside her colleagues.
The Senate had earlier postponed its resumption from September 23 to October 7, 2025, extending its annual recess and delaying discussions on several national issues.
Giwa cautioned the Senate leadership against any attempt to prevent Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming, stressing that she had fully served her suspension and was legally entitled to return.
“Our client should go straight and resume on Tuesday. Anything contrary is mere opinion,” he said. “As Femi Falana rightly stated, the Senate cannot legalize illegality. The National Assembly is a creation of law, not a tool for personal interests.”
He further warned that any move to block her would contradict the Senate’s own resolution and could plunge the institution into “total chaos.”
“She has served the six months. What remains before the court is to determine whether her initial suspension was valid. That has nothing to do with her resumption,” Giwa added.
Akpoti-Uduaghan recently gained access to her office in Suite 2.05, Senate Wing, after it was unsealed by Deputy Director of the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji. Her office had been locked since March 6, 2025, when she was suspended for alleged misconduct following her protest over a seat reassignment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on February 20.
Speaking after returning to her office two weeks ago, the lawmaker described Akpabio as a “dictator,” vowing not to apologise for standing her ground.
“It’s incredible how much we’ve endured in the past six months — from an unjust suspension to blackmail. But we survived,” she said. “Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am. He runs the Senate like a personal fiefdom, and that’s unacceptable.”
Although her suspension officially ended in September, her return was delayed by ongoing legal disputes and alleged resistance from Senate leadership.
Efforts to reach Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu and Akpabio’s media aide were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.
As the National Assembly reconvenes today after its extended break, all eyes are on the Red Chamber to see whether Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan will be allowed to take her seat — or face yet another obstacle at the gates.
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