Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti, has been barred from resuming for legislative duties, with the National Assembly insisting her suspension is still a matter of litigation.
In a letter dated August 28, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan had notified the clerk to the national assembly of her intention to resume on September 4, the date she said marked the end of her six-month suspension.
She argued that the Federal High Court had in July declared her suspension “excessive and unconstitutional” and ordered her recall.
“I write to formally notify you on my decision to resume my legislative function upon the expiration of the suspension period,” she said.
She added that the expiration entitled her to resume her “full duties as a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” without prejudice to the appeals filed at the court of appeal.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also demanded immediate access to her senatorial office, citing constitutional obligations and the need to prepare for plenary resumption.
She said her request was based on the need to review pending legislative business, catch up on committee assignments, attend to constituency issues and prepare for parliamentary sessions.
But in a reply dated September 4, 2025, Yahaya Danzaria, acting clerk to the national assembly, rejected the request.
Danzaria said the senator’s suspension took effect from March 6 and remains a subject of litigation before the court of appeal.
“The matter therefore remains sub judice, and until the judicial process is concluded and the senate formally reviews the suspension in the light of the court’s pronouncement, no administrative action can be taken by this office to facilitate your resumption,” he wrote.
The clerk said Akpoti-Uduaghan would be duly notified of the senate’s decision once the matter is resolved.
