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Summary
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was denied entry into the National Assembly complex by security agents, prompting her to exit her convoy and walk to a second gate on foot. The Kogi lawmaker stated that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is abusing his power by weaponising the institution against her.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was denied entry to the Senate chambers on July 22, 2025, as she attempted to resume her constitutional duties. The incident occurred after she had duly notified the Senate of her intention to resume functions through two letters.
This comes after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Nigerian Senate to immediately reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, ruling that her six-month suspension was excessive and unconstitutional.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed disappointment, stating,
“The number of armed policemen that we met outside, you know, all well kitted with guns, charged at a female senator who is unarmed with her people here, patriotic Nigerians.”
She clarified media narratives regarding the court judgment, specifically the claim that the judge did not order her reinstatement. She explained that a court’s decision can manifest in five ways: a judicial decree, a sentence, an order, a conviction, or a recommendation. In her case, she stated, the decision tilted towards a recommendation.
She stressed that while a recommendation might seem voluntary, Section 287 subsection 3 of the 1999 Constitution clearly specifies that decisions of any of the possible courts on every authority are binding. Therefore, regardless of whether the Federal High Court’s decision was an order, sentence, judicial decree, or recommendation, it remains a binding court decision on the National Assembly.
Furthermore, she highlighted Justice Binta Nyako’s decision, which stated that her six-month suspension was excessive and would prevent her from carrying out her constitutional functions as stipulated in Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that anything contravening the Nigerian Constitution is illegal, asserting that her suspension is illegal.
Senator Natasha also confirmed that she has appealed a separate contempt ruling related to a satirical apology letter she posted on Facebook, but maintained that this appeal does not in any way invalidate the court’s decision.
She added that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, abuses his power and weaponises the Senate against her.
“He is abusing power by willing the entire institution to fight me,” she said. “This pretty much is the worst assembly Nigeria has ever had.”
