Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) resumed her duties at the National Assembly in Abuja yesterday following the completion of her six-month suspension.
The suspension, imposed by the Senate in March over alleged misconduct during plenary on February 20, 2025, was later ruled by the Federal High Court as “excessive” and without legal basis, prompting her recall.
Natasha returned to her office at suite 2.05, Senate wing, which was reopened by the Deputy Director of Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji.
However, she revealed that she had not been officially notified of the office reopening and expressed concern over conditions the Senate might impose for her resumption.
Reports indicate that supporters and constituents who gathered to welcome her were not allowed into the National Assembly and were later tear-gassed by security personnel.
Several people reportedly sustained injuries during the crowd-control measures. Eyewitnesses described the scene as tense, with heavy security deployment turning what was expected to be a historic return into a chaotic ordeal.
In a brief statement, Natasha criticized the Senate leadership, stating, “If they are expecting me to apologise, I’m sorry, I don’t have those words. You can’t apologise for an injustice.
The document that led to my illegal suspension was actually written by the office of the Senate President. This is just one illegality upon another.”
She added that the incident exposed the level of dictatorship prevailing in the National Assembly and called on Nigerians to reject such practices.
