By Atoyebi Nike
The Senate has insisted that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan must wait for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of a recent Federal High Court judgment before resuming her legislative duties, despite a court advisory suggesting that her six-month suspension was excessive and should be reviewed.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended in March, had planned to return to the Senate on Tuesday, July 15, following a ruling by Justice Binta Nyako that described the length of her suspension as excessive.
In a letter dated July 11, 2025, and addressed to the National Assembly, her legal team Numa S.A.N. & Co. asserted that the judgment granted legal grounds for her immediate return to legislative duties. They cited the court’s position as a directive for her recall and declared her intention to resume accordingly.
However, the Senate on Sunday rejected that position, insisting that no legally binding order was made to lift her suspension. In a statement issued by Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the upper chamber stated that the judgment referenced did not mandate her reinstatement before the suspension period ends.
“The Senate wishes to state categorically and for the avoidance of doubt that the Certified True Copy of the Enrolled Order did not contain any express or mandatory order directing the recall or reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan,” the statement read.
According to the Senate, the remarks made by Justice Nyako in her July 4 judgment were merely advisory and lacked the force of law.
While the court expressed concern over the length of the suspension, the Senate maintains that it has the constitutional authority to regulate its internal affairs, including disciplinary actions.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension had drawn criticism from civil society groups and legal observers, who argued it infringed on her constituents’ right to representation.
As the legal standoff continues, the senator remains barred from legislative activities pending further legal clarification or the formal expiration of her suspension.
