‘No court order mandating your recall’: Senate warns Natasha against resumption

The Senate has warned the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against forcefully resuming her legislative duties on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja recently ordered the Senate to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan back for her legislative duties.

The Senate had, on March 6, suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months amid the sexual harassment allegation she made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

As part of the suspension, the senator’s salary and security details were withdrawn, while she was barred from accessing the National Assembly premises.

The lawmaker later vowed to resume her legislative duties on Tuesday.

However, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, in a statement on Sunday, July 20, warned Akpoti-Uduaghan not to resume until the expiration of her suspension.

Senate: Why we can’t reinstate Natasha now

Adaramodu, who is the Senate spokesperson, stated that no valid court order mandates Akpoti-Uduaghan’s immediate recall.

“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,” the lawmaker stressed.

Adaramodu added that the Senate had previously issued two statements after the court ruling and the release of the Certified True Copy of the Enrolled Order, stating that no positive or mandatory directive was issued against the Senate regarding the senator’s recall.

He said: “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.”

The Star