After months of political drama and legal battles, the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is set to return to plenary today (Tuesday), marking the end of her six-month suspension by the Senate.
Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, confirmed the development in an interview with Punch, stressing that the lawmaker had served out her sanction and could not be barred from resuming legislative duties.
Giwa warned that any attempt to block the senator would contradict the chamber’s own resolution and risk plunging the National Assembly into what he described as “total chaos.”
He said, “She has served out the six months, so whatever is going to be in court right now is only to determine whether your action in March was validly made.
“It has nothing to do with her resumption.
“If you deny her the chance to resume, it means that you are even going against your own resolution and the reason you suspended her for six months in the first place.
“That is total chaos you are fanning and the National Assembly cannot be seen promoting such.”
Ahead of her resumption, Akpoti-Uduaghan launched a blistering attack on Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she labelled a “dictator.”
Speaking after her office at the National Assembly was unsealed on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, she stated that she would not offer an apology for her actions.
She said, “It is actually amazing how much we have had to pay in the past six months, from the unjust suspension to the recall. But we survived the recall, blackmail and that crazy lady on Facebook.
“In everything, sometimes it is good to push the institution to the test. We can’t cower in the face of injustice. No one is more Nigerian than us. Senator Akpabio is not more of a senator than I am.
“He is not the governor of this place, yet he treated me as if I were a servant or domestic staff in his house. It is so unfortunate that we will have a National Assembly being run by such a dictator. It is totally unacceptable.”
The Kogi lawmaker’s troubles began on February 20 when she protested against the reassignment of her seat by Akpabio.
She was suspended on March 6 for alleged misconduct, with her office in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing sealed off by the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Although her suspension lapsed in September, she was unable to return due to legal tussles and opposition from Senate leadership.
With the Senate resuming from its extended recess today after shifting its return from September 23 to October 7, Naija News understands that attention will be fixed on whether Akpoti-Uduaghan will be allowed to resume plenary without incident or face fresh resistance
