Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Vows Senate Return After Court Reinstatement, Amid Legal Caution From Senate
Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has announced plans to resume her seat in the Senate on Tuesday, following a Federal High Court ruling that nullified her suspension and ordered her immediate reinstatement.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Binta Nyako on July 4, declared the suspension unconstitutional and emphasized that it denied the people of Kogi Central their right to representation. However, the court also found Akpoti-Uduaghan in contempt for a satirical Facebook post aimed at Senate President Godswill Akpabio, imposing a ₦5 million fine.
In a video posted on social media, the senator thanked her supporters and confirmed her intent 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 the grace of God,” she said.
Despite the court ruling, the Senate has taken a cautious stance, stating it will not act on the judgment until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the decision. In a statement on Sunday, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu explained that although Senate legal representatives were present in court, the full judgment was not read aloud.
“A formal application has been made to obtain the CTC for a proper legal review,” Adaramodu said. “Until we receive and study it, and upon legal advice, the Senate will refrain from any action that could affect its legal standing.”
He further noted that no party had been served with the enrolled court order, meaning the ruling cannot yet be enforced.
Meanwhile, the Kogi Renaissance Group has cautioned Akpoti-Uduaghan against attempting to force her way back into the Senate. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Segun Faniyi, the group warned that such a move would heighten tensions and disrespect both the judiciary and the legislative process.
The group, which had previously supported the senator, acknowledged that its earlier stance was based on limited information and has now shifted following a full review of the court’s judgment. It apologized to the Senate and to Senate President Akpabio for what it described as the senator’s “previous conduct.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March after a chaotic Senate session sparked by disputes over seating arrangements. The controversy escalated when she later accused Akpabio of sexual harassment during a live TV interview—a claim that intensified political and public scrutiny.
As the legal and political standoff unfolds, both the Senate and concerned groups have urged restraint, stressing the importance of due process and respect for the rule of law.
