Natasha Vs The Senate: Lawmaker Locked Out Amid Legal Showdown

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was on Tuesday prevented from resuming legislative duties at the National Assembly despite a recent Federal High Court decision directing her recall.

The lawmaker, who had earlier vowed to return to plenary following the court’s ruling, arrived at the National Assembly complex in Abuja around noon. Riding in a black vehicle, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was stopped by security personnel at the first gate. After some minutes, she stepped out of her car and attempted to walk into the complex, flanked by a group of supporters that included prominent activist Aisha Yesufu.

At the second gate, however, she was again denied access and asked to turn back. Undeterred, the senator and her entourage pressed on, only to find the third gate locked. Despite several efforts to gain entry, they were ultimately denied access and forced to leave the premises.

Speaking afterward, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed deep dissatisfaction with the development and indicated that she would consult her legal team to decide on the next steps. She also vowed to resume once the Senate reconvenes from its expected two-month recess.

The incident follows a legal and political standoff that began earlier this year. On March 6, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged breaches of the chamber’s rules. The suspension followed her public accusations of sexual harassment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a move that ignited widespread debate and criticism from civil society groups and gender rights advocates.

Contesting the suspension, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that her suspension was illegal and unconstitutional. In a recent judgment, the court ruled in her favour and directed the Senate to recall her.

Relying on that judgment, the senator last Saturday reaffirmed her intention to resume legislative duties on Tuesday.

“I have pretty much two months more before the six months expire. However, I have written to the Senate again telling them that I’m resuming on the 22nd, which is on Tuesday, by the special grace of God,”
she said during an empowerment programme held in her hometown of Ihima, Kogi State.

“I will be there, because the court did make the decision on that. Now, they argue that it’s an order — it’s not an order, but it is a decision.”

However, the Senate has maintained that the court ruling does not constitute a binding order requiring immediate compliance. In a strongly worded statement issued ahead of her attempted return, Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu dismissed her move as premature.

“We advise the Distinguished Senator to refrain from any attempt to storm the Senate next Tuesday under a false pretext, as doing so would not only be premature but also undermine the dignity of the Senate and violate due process,”
Adaramodu said.

“The Senate, as a law-abiding institution, is committed to upholding the rule of law and the integrity of its proceedings. It will not tolerate the disruption of its proceedings.”

He further stated that the upper chamber would review the court’s advisory opinion—particularly as it relates to its Standing Orders and legislative procedures—before taking a final position.

“The Senate will, at the appropriate time, consider the advisory opinion of the court on both amending the Standing Orders of the Senate, her recall, and communicate the same thereof to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. Until then, she is respectfully advised to stay away from the Senate chambers and allow due process to run its full course.”

The legal and institutional wrangling has drawn national attention, with observers closely monitoring how the Senate navigates the court’s judgment and the broader implications for legislative independence, gender representation, and internal disciplinary processes.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, a vocal advocate for transparency and women’s rights, became the first female senator to represent Kogi Central following the 2023 general elections. Her suspension and the events surrounding her attempted return are likely to spark renewed debate about the balance between legislative autonomy and judicial oversight in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.