By Peter Omopo
Abuja | July 22, 2025 — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has announced plans to challenge the National Assembly’s refusal to allow her return to the Senate, despite a subsisting court order nullifying her suspension.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday after being barred from entering the National Assembly complex, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the Senate’s action as a “clear contempt of court,” accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of disregarding the Nigerian Constitution.
“Akpabio cannot be greater than the Nigerian Constitution. The legitimacy I hold as a senator was given to me by the people of Kogi, not by the Office of the Senate President,” she stated.
The Senator was suspended earlier this year for six months, but a Federal High Court ruling delivered by Justice Binta Nyako overturned the suspension, paving the way for her return. However, her attempt to resume her legislative duties was thwarted by security personnel stationed at the National Assembly.
Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that the appeal reportedly filed by the Senate leadership does not invalidate the judgment of the court.
“That I’ve been denied entrance to the National Assembly is a statement being made. It is now on record that the National Assembly under Akpabio has decided to flout a court order. It’s ironic that lawmakers are the ones disregarding the law,” she added.
She further described her initial suspension as “fraudulent,” claiming the documentation behind it was flawed.
“Even the suspension ab initio was fraudulent — the document was faulty,” she said.
The senator disclosed that she would meet with her legal team to escalate the matter to a higher court, seeking further legal interpretation and redress.
“I’m a law-abiding citizen. Going forward, I will consult my legal team so they can proceed to the appellate court. This issue must be addressed within the framework of the law,” she affirmed.
As of the time of filing this report, the Senate leadership had not issued an official response to the court ruling or the events of Tuesday.