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The suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has declared her intention to resume legislative duties in the Senate on Tuesday, following a Federal High Court judgment that voided her suspension and ordered her immediate reinstatement.
But while the lawmaker prepares to return, the Senate says it will take no official action until it receives and reviews the Certified True Copy of the judgment delivered on July 4, 2025.
In a statement on Sunday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed that although the Senate’s legal team was present in court, the full judgment was not read in open session.
He said a formal application had been filed to obtain the CTC for proper legal interpretation. So This Happened (EP317) Reviews Speed Darlington’s Hide And Seek With NAPTIP0:00 / 1:01 So This Happened (EP317) Reviews ADC’s Emergence As As Malami, Aregbesola, Mark Join Forces0:00 / 0:00 “Pending receipt and examination of the CTC, and acting on the advice of counsel, the Senate shall refrain from taking any steps that may prejudice its legal position,” Adaramodu said.
He further stressed that, as no party in the suit had yet been served the enrolled order of the judgment, no enforcement could lawfully proceed.
The Senate reassured Nigerians of its commitment to the rule of law and constitutional governance, urging the public to remain calm and patient as the legal process unfolds. However, the suspended senator said she would resume legislative duties on Tuesday.
The lawmaker disclosed this in a video shared on social media, which started trending on Sunday. She thanked her supporters for standing with her. “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.
Justice Binta Nyako, in a judgment, ruled that the suspension lacked constitutional backing and ordered the immediate reinstatement of Akpoti-Uduaghan. The court, however, also found the senator guilty of contempt for a Facebook post described as a satirical apology addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Related News Kwankwaso’s next move could redefine the politics of 2027 Makinde’s loyalist resigns as PDP chair in protest 2027: Coalition crisis brews as ADC chairmen set terms for alliance The post, the court held, violated an interim injunction issued on March 4, 2025, barring parties from making public or social media comments on the ongoing suit challenging her suspension.
Justice Nyako imposed a N5m fine on the senator for the post, which was deemed to have breached the court’s order.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate in March after a controversial plenary session that turned rowdy over disagreements about seating arrangements in the chamber. Days later, the controversy deepened when she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment during a live television interview.
In her ruling, Justice Nyako emphasised that the extended suspension of the senator was not only procedurally flawed but also deprived the people of Kogi Central of their constitutional right to representation. Meanwhile, the Kogi Renaissance Group has warned Akpoti-Uduaghan against any form of unlawful action or forceful entry into the Senate chamber, following her recent legal battle with the Red Chamber.
The group stressed that while the Federal High Court ruled against her by ordering her to pay the sum of N5m and tender an apology, the ruling also imposed strict penalties for her contempt of court, a development that demanded caution, not confrontation.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its spokesperson, Segun Faniyi, the group expressed concern over reports that Akpoti-Uduaghan planned to “storm” the Senate in protest. Such a move, the group warned, “would not only escalate tensions but also disrespect the judiciary’s ruling and undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative institution.”
It advised the embattled senator to refrain from any action that could be interpreted as an attempt to take the law into her own hands. The group further admitted that its initial support for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, including mobilising media influencers to shape public opinion, was based on incomplete information.
“The court’s detailed judgment has provided clarity, and we now recognise the need for restraint and adherence to due process,” Faniyi stated.
The group extended an unreserved apology to the Senate and Senate President Akpabio for what it described as “the suspended senator’s previous conduct.
