Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has announced her intention to resume legislative duties on Tuesday, following a Federal High Court ruling that nullified her suspension and ordered her immediate reinstatement.
However, the Senate has stated it will await the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment delivered on July 4, 2025, before taking any formal action.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed that while the Senate’s legal team attended the proceedings, the full judgment was not delivered in open court. He noted that a formal application had been submitted to obtain the CTC for proper legal assessment.
“Pending receipt and review of the CTC, and based on legal advice, the Senate will refrain from taking any steps that may affect its legal standing,” Adaramodu said. He added that enforcement of the ruling cannot lawfully proceed until parties are formally served the enrolled court order.
Despite this, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan announced via a social media video on Sunday that she intends to return to the Senate this week. “I thank you for your support. I am glad we are victorious today. We shall resume in the Senate on Tuesday, by God’s grace,” she stated.
Justice Binta Nyako, in her ruling, declared the senator’s suspension unconstitutional, citing a lack of due process and infringement on the rights of Kogi Central constituents. However, the court also found Akpoti-Uduaghan in contempt for a Facebook post it said breached an existing injunction barring public commentary on the case. She was fined ₦5 million for the violation.
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The senator was originally suspended in March following a chaotic Senate session that devolved into a dispute over seating arrangements. The situation escalated days later when she publicly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment during a live TV interview.
Justice Nyako emphasized that the prolonged suspension was procedurally flawed and denied Kogi Central its constitutional right to representation.
In response to her planned return, the Kogi Renaissance Group issued a cautionary statement, warning against any forceful attempt to re-enter the Senate chamber. The group, through its spokesperson Segun Faniyi, urged the senator to act with restraint, noting that the court’s ruling included penalties for contempt and demanded compliance, not confrontation.
The group also acknowledged its previous support for Akpoti-Uduaghan was based on incomplete information, and extended a formal apology to the Senate and its leadership for what it described as the senator’s “inappropriate conduct.”
