The Senate has warned suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) to shelve her reported plan to forcefully return to sitting tomorrow, insisting that no valid court order mandates her recall before her six-month suspension expires.
Speaking in Abuja yesterday, the Senate’s spokesperson, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, said the Red Chamber has restated “for the third time” that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan remains suspended for alleged misconduct and must follow due process if she wishes to return.
The Kogi Senator was suspended in March 2025 for six months over what the Senate described as misconduct during plenary. She has since challenged her suspension in court, with a recent Federal High Court ruling sparking claims that she is cleared to return.
However, Senator Adaramodu said the ruling by Justice Binta Nyako only gave a “non-binding advisory” urging the Senate to consider amending its Standing Orders and reviewing the suspension, which the court felt might be excessive but did not order her immediate recall.
“The Honourable Court gave no positive or mandatory order directing the Senate to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan before the end of her suspension,” Adaramodu said.
He added that the court found the senator guilty of contempt and imposed penalties, including a ₦5 million fine payable to the Federal Government and a mandatory apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page conditions which, according to him, she has yet to comply with.
“It is therefore surprising and legally untenable that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is attempting to act upon an imaginary order of recall that does not exist,” he said.
He warned that any attempt by the suspended senator to “storm” the chamber tomorrow would undermine the dignity of the Senate and breach due process.
“The Senate is a law-abiding institution committed to upholding the rule of law and will not tolerate any disruption of its proceedings,” Adaramodu stressed.
The Senate says it will at an “appropriate time” consider the court’s advisory opinion and communicate any decision directly to Akpoti-Uduaghan.
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