Daniel Otera
The dispute surrounding the return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Nigerian Senate grew more intense on Thursday. Her legal representatives and the Nigeria Labour Congress issued separate warnings to the Senate, threatening legal actions and widespread demonstrations if the lawmaker from Kogi Central Senatorial District is not permitted to resume her duties after her suspension ended.
A letter dated September 11 from Senior Advocate of Nigeria Michael Numa, addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly, charged the Senate leadership with intentionally trying to undermine the choice of voters in Kogi Central. Numa, representing M.J. Numa & Partners, stressed that the six-month suspension imposed on the senator starting March 6, 2025, had already concluded, providing no valid reason to keep her out of legislative activities.
He described the Senate’s position that her reinstatement is “sub judice” as a wrong use of the principle. “The Senate’s reliance on the sub judice rule is at best a self-imposed restraint on parliamentary debate concerning matters pending before the courts. It has never been, and cannot be, a lawful basis to deny compliance with judicial orders or to frustrate constitutional rights after a fixed-term suspension has expired,” Numa wrote.
The lawyer pointed out that multiple court decisions, such as those from Justices Inyang Ekwo, Egwuatu, and Binta Nyako, had already declared the suspension invalid and unlawful. He cautioned that any additional postponement would be seen as a violation of the Constitution and an act of contempt against the courts.
“Take notice that failure to comply by Monday, 15th September 2025, will leave us with no alternative but to initiate proceedings against you personally and in your official capacity. Such proceedings will include committal for contempt, disciplinary action for breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and liability for instigating breach of the peace with potential implications for national security,” the letter stated.
Separately, the Nigeria Labour Congress condemned the Senate leadership for what it called a risky move towards dictatorial practices in the legislature. In a statement from its President, Joe Ajaero, the NLC blamed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and others for deliberately depriving Kogi Central residents of their representation and disregarding court decisions.
“That you suspended a fellow senator from her constitutional roles, depriving her people of proper representation, is not sinful enough, but you went ahead to ignore the rulings of the court that voided her suspension. At the expiration of your illegal suspension, you are still denying her a return. This is the height of impunity and morally reprehensible,” Ajaero declared.
The union argued that blocking Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return equals robbing her constituents of their right to representation. “By wilfully disenfranchising an entire senatorial district, the Senate is effectively stealing the political representation for which the people pay taxes,” the NLC stated.
It also claimed that the Senate was treating this situation as a trial for weakening opposition voices before the 2027 general elections. The NLC promised to rally workers nationwide to oppose what it termed “a cannibalisation of democracy.”
“We warn the leadership of the National Assembly and their enablers: the Nigerian people, united across ethnic and religious lines, will not stand idly by while you cannibalise our democracy. The labour movement will mobilise its immense membership and moral authority to resist this slide into autocracy. An attack on one senator today is an attack on the sovereignty of every Nigerian voter tomorrow,” Ajaero warned.
This issue originated from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension in March 2025 after a tense clash with the Senate leadership. Although the Federal High Court and later judgements ruled the punishment unconstitutional and cancelled it, the Senate has kept her from returning, mentioning ongoing appeals and procedural issues.
Earlier this week, the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, confirmed receiving a letter from Akpoti-Uduaghan stating that her suspension expired on September 4. But he told her she could not resume until all court cases on the matter are fully resolved.
This situation has increased disapproval of the Senate, with civil society organisations and opposition political parties adding their voices to demands for the Senate to follow the rule of law.