… As Senate warns against forceful resumption
Prominent activist Aisha Yesufu has pledged her support for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has insisted on resuming her legislative duties on Tuesday, despite resistance from the Senate.
Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme on Monday, Yesufu declared that she and others would accompany the Kogi Central senator to the National Assembly, arguing that a valid court judgement supports her return.
“Senator Natasha has every right to resume office, and she won’t be doing so alone. I’ll be with her, and if the Senate decides to kill us, let them go ahead,” Yesufu said.
She decried the treatment of women in Nigerian politics, noting that only four of 109 senators are women.
“She is being targeted for doing her job with integrity. This discrimination has to stop,” Yesufu stated, describing the senator’s suspension as unconstitutional and a violation of the rule of law.
“The court ruled that the suspension was unlawful. The Senate didn’t elect her, her people did and no one should be denied representation,” she added.
Yesufu further accused the Senate of ignoring court rulings and criticised the judiciary for allegedly yielding to political pressure.
“The judiciary has become a pawn. Even after delivering a judgement, it now looks for political approval before enforcing it,” she said.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended in March 2025 over a contentious seating dispute and a sexual misconduct allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, reiterated at her hometown in Ihima, Kogi State, on Saturday that she would return on Tuesday, July 22.
She acknowledged that while she continued some constituency work, the suspension had hindered her ability to sponsor bills and contribute meaningfully in plenary.
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ruled in July that the suspension was unconstitutional and ordered her reinstatement.
However, Senate President Akpabio has appealed the decision, arguing that it interferes with parliamentary processes.
In response, Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu insisted that the court ruling did not amount to a binding reinstatement order and warned against what he described as premature action.
“The Senate will consider the court’s advisory at the appropriate time. Until then, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is advised to stay away,” the statement read.
It would be recalled that the Senate had warned Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to desist from forcefully resuming her legislative duties on Tuesday until the expiration of her suspension.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu gave the warning in a statement issued on Sunday.
While insisting that no valid court order mandates her immediate recall, Adaramodu emphasised that the Senate remains committed to due process and the rule of law.
He said, “The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to reaffirm, for the third time, that there is no subsisting court order mandating the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before the expiration of her suspension.”
According to Adaramodu, the clarification followed media reports quoting the embattled lawmaker as saying that she would return to the Senate on Tuesday, allegedly based on a judgment by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Adaramodu said the Senate had previously issued two public statements after the court ruling and the release of the Certified True Copy of the Enrolled Order, making it clear that no positive or mandatory directive was issued against the Senate regarding her recall.
“Rather, the Honourable Court gave a non-binding advisory urging the Senate to consider amending its Standing Orders and reviewing the suspension, which it opined might be excessive.
“The Court, however, explicitly held that the Senate did not breach any law or constitutional provision in imposing the disciplinary measure based on the Senator’s misconduct during plenary,” he said.
The Senate further noted that the same court found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt and imposed penalties, including a ₦5m fine payable to the Federal Government and a mandatory apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page, a directive that has reportedly not been complied with.
According to the Senate spokesman, “It is therefore surprising and legally untenable that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, while on appeal and having filed a motion for stay against the valid and binding orders made against her, is attempting to act upon an imaginary order of recall that does not exist.”
He warned that any move by the suspended lawmaker to “storm the Senate next Tuesday under a false pretext” would be premature, disruptive, and a breach of legislative order.
“The Senate will, at the appropriate time, consider the advisory opinion of the court on both amending the Standing Orders of the Senate, her recall, and communicate the same thereof to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“Until then, she is respectfully advised to stay away from the Senate chambers and allow due process to run its full course,” the statement concluded.
