Senator Natasha Akpoti
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has vowed to take her case to the appellate court to resolve the ongoing legal dispute over her suspension by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The embattled senator made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja after security personnel barred her from entering the National Assembly Complex, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Defying heavy rain and a security blockade, Akpoti-Uduaghan walked from the MOPOL gate to the National Assembly premises alongside supporters, including activist Aisha Yesufu.
The senator, whose suspension is under legal challenge, condemned the process as fundamentally flawed. “The suspension was fraudulent from the outset,” she told journalists.
“The document used to justify it was a mere photocopy of an attendance sheet, not even signed by committee members.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan disputed claims that her suspension remains in effect due to the Senate’s appeal.
“The Senate’s appeal doesn’t stop me from resuming. My appeal is about the contempt ruling over a satirical Facebook post, which is separate from the suspension issue,” she clarified.
“Justice Binta Nyako’s ruling addressed the suspension, not any sexual harassment claims, and I maintain that my post did not constitute contempt.”
With the National Assembly set to begin a two-month recess on Wednesday, the senator expressed concern that inaction could effectively force her to serve the six-month suspension.
“If I walk away now, the recess starting tomorrow means I’d practically serve the full term by late September when the Senate resumes,” she said.
“I’m clear: I am no longer suspended, and this fraudulent process must be challenged.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resolve to seek appellate court intervention highlights her determination to contest what she describes as an unjust and procedurally deficient suspension, as she pushes for clarity and reinstatement.
