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From Adesuwa Tsan and Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has slammed the 10th Senate under the leadership of Godswill Akpabio as the worst in the nation’s political history.
The Kogi Central lawmaker spoke yesterday after she was prevented from accessing the Senate chamber by security operatives at the National Assembly.
“I will say this, pretty much, it’s a shame that we have had so many good Senate presidents. We’ve had Chuba Okadigbo of blessed memory. We’ve had Senator David Mark. We’ve had Bukola Saraki. We’ve even had Ahmad Lawal, who is a senator right now. And I’d say that this pretty much is the worst assembly Nigeria has ever had. And I hope we will not have to suffer this anymore because it tells a lot on the individual,” the embattled lawmaker who arrived at the National Assembly complex shortly after noon yesterday accompanied by prominent human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu and a group of supporters, determined to resume legislative duties following a July 5 Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako said.
The court had declared her six-month suspension excessive and directed the Senate to reinstate her.
The senator was sanctioned for six months after a dramatic outburst on the Senate floor, which followed a sudden change in her seat position. She also accused Senate President, Akpabio, of sexual harassment, a charge she formally petitioned and took to the media.
The Senate, however, insisted that she was suspended for “unparliamentary behaviour” and for allegedly bringing the Red Chamber to disrepute through her actions and public commentary. But Akpoti-Uduaghan linked her suspension directly to the harassment petition.
Security was visibly tightened around the complex with police and National Assembly security officers screening vehicles and ensuring all individuals were properly identified, yesterday.
On her arrival at the parliament yesterday, her convoy was stopped at the first gate of the National Assembly. Security officers screened her vehicle and those in her company and denied them passage. Akpoti-Uduaghan then stepped out and walked the long stretch toward the main complex under the rainfall. As she began her walk, security personnel locked the first gate behind her, barring others with official business from gaining access.
However, when she reached the second gate leading directly into the Senate wing, she was denied further access. Efforts to speak with the officers proved futile as they insisted they had not received any directive from the appropriate authorities authorising her entry. The senator was left stranded outside the main premises.
Addressing her supporters, she said: “I am a duly elected senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and there’s a valid judgment that says I should resume my duties,” she told journalists gathered outside the gate. “It’s disappointing to see this level of resistance, especially the number of armed policemen stationed just to stop me from entering.”
The lawmaker accused Akpabio of orchestrating her exclusion from the chamber, describing the actions of the Senate leadership as unlawful and vindictive.
“It’s a personal vendetta that Akpabio is unleashing on me by hiding under the whims of the institutions. It is totally wrong,” she said. “The office of the Senate President does not give me my legitimacy as a senator. I got my legitimacy from the people of Kogi Central who voted me at the February 2023 election.”
In a letter titled “Notification of Resumption and Request for Restoration of Police Protection” dated July 21, Natasha had notified the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of her scheduled return to the National Assembly, following a recent Federal High Court ruling that overturned her suspension from the Senate.
She requested the immediate restoration of her official security detail, citing potential security threats commonly associated with high-profile political matters.
The letter read: “I write to formally notify your esteemed office of the recent judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/543/2024, which declared my suspension as excessive and ultra vires the provisions of Section 63 of the Constitution. Consequently, the Court ordered that the Senate should recall me to continue representation of my constituents that sent me to the Senate
“In compliance with the judgment, I am scheduled to resume legislative duties at the National Assembly on Tuesday, 22nd July 2025.
“In light of the security challenges that often accompany high-profile political matters and the need for adequate protection in the course of my official duties, I respectfully request the immediate restoration of my official security detail. This is crucial to ensure my safety as I resume work and continue to carry out my constitutional responsibilities without hindrance.
“For your kind reference, I have attached a Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Federal High Court and do draw your attention, particularly, to Order 12 of the judgment.
“I trust in your usual prompt attention and continued dedication to the rule of law, and I appreciate your support in ensuring the safety and protection of all public office holders, citizens and residents. Please accept the assurances of my highest esteem.”
Justice Nyako’s ruling had faulted the Senate’s suspension of the lawmaker, ordering her reinstatement. Following the judgment, Akpoti-Uduaghan wrote to the Senate, notifying them of her intention to resume on July 15. However, that week’s plenary was suspended in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari. She sent another formal notice last Friday, stating that she would resume on Tuesday, July 22.
But the Senate, through its spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu, pushed back over the weekend. In a statement, Adaramodu argued that the court ruling was merely a recommendation and not a binding order. He warned that the senator would be acting illegally by resuming unilaterally.
Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the Senate’s interpretation, citing constitutional provisions.
“Pursuant to Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution, it is very clear that decisions of a court come in five ways — a judicial decree, a sentence, an order, a conviction, and a recommendation. Mine tilts towards a recommendation,” she said. “If you go further to Section 287(3), it specifies in clear terms that decisions of any of these five types are binding and enforceable on every Nigerian and every authority.”
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She also addressed claims that the ruling had been appealed. Contrary to reports, she said, it was Senate President Akpabio, not the Senate or the Ethics Committee, who filed the appeal.
“This is the appeal. It is clear that it is not the National Assembly, neither is it the Senate that appealed the judgment. It’s Akpabio himself. Read it. The President of the Senate is the only appellant.”
She further explained that Akpabio joined the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate and the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions as respondents.
“That means Akpabio has taken the National Assembly and the Senate and the Clerk and the Committee to court as well. Do you understand? That must be clarified.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that the entire process that led to her suspension in March was flawed.
“People have wondered, ‘Natasha, how come there’s so much hate?’ How come you were suspended for six months just the day after you tendered your petition on sexual harassment?”
She further questioned the legitimacy of the document used to suspend her.
“The suspension ab initio was fraudulent because the document that recommended my suspension was not attested to by the senators — the members of the committee. It was just an attendance sheet that was photocopied.”
She vowed to seek legal interpretation from the appellate court over the Senate’s refusal to comply with the judgment.
“I will approach the Appeal Court to get an interpretation on whether the Senate leadership has the right to disobey a court ruling. I am a law-abiding citizen, and I will continue to pursue justice through the proper legal channels.”
“The most important thing is I am proving to the good people of Kogi Central and Nigerians at large, especially the women who have continuously written to me, that they have derived courage in my actions so far.”
She warned that the continued denial of her right to represent her constituents was not just illegal but also undemocratic, saying the 10th Assembly led by Akpabio is the worst so far.
“You can’t have your own senatorial district then deprive Kogi Central of representation. There is just no reason why these gates should not be open.”
“I hope that with this journey so far… people should muster strength from me. And I hope that in 2027, we’ll have more courageous, younger, educated, intentional leaders elected into office so that together we can change the narrative of Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan has been accused of taking the law into her hands by attempting to enforce a judgment she has appealed against.
The accusation followed her attempt to gain entrance into the National Assembly on the basis of enforcing the judgment of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, which she claimed ordered her recall.
A senior lawyer, Ken Harries, wondered if taking law into one’s hands, as shown by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s conduct, was the right way to enforce a judgment.
“In my many years in legal practice, I have not seen such a display of lawlessness from a supposed federal lawmaker. How do you invade the National Assembly with a group of partisans claiming to want to enforce a judgment?
“There are procedures for judgment enforcement. It is not for an individual to take the law into his or her own hands, create a crisis atmosphere on the pretext of wanting to enforce a judgment.” Harries recalled that Akpoti-Uduaghan filed an appeal against the judgment about a week ago, faulting the judgment and praying the Court of Appeal to set it aside.
Harries, who queried the rationale behind Akpoti-Uduaghan’s decision to invade the National Assembly, sought to know what judgment she is seeking to enforce. “How do you enforce a judgment that you have said you are not satisfied with, condemned, appealed and prayed the Court of Appeal to reverse?
“Assuming the judgment is still enforceable, has she complied with all the orders made against her, including that she pay N5million and publish a public apology in two newspapers and her Facebook page?
“If she has failed to obey the same judgment by not complying with the orders made against her, what moral standing does she have to accuse the leadership of the Senate of being lawless?
“Her lawyers should be in a better position to advise her to learn to be lawful and respect the rule of law. Whoever goes to equity must go with clean hands,” Harries said.
