Senate drags feet on reinstating Natasha, says it awaits CTC

The Senate has disclosed the conditions for the reinstatement of the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

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

The court described the senator’s six-month suspension as “excessive”.

The Senate had, on March 6, 2025, suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months amid the sexual harassment allegation she made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The suspension came after a recommendation from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, as presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Neda Imasuen (APC-Edo South).

As part of the suspension, the senator’s salary and security details were withdrawn, while she was barred from accessing the National Assembly premises.

Speaking on the court order on Sunday, July 13, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, said Akpoti-Uduaghan cannot be reinstated until the Senate considers the contents of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court judgement in the case involving the lawmaker and Akpabio.

Adaramodu, who is the Senate spokesperson, said the upper legislative chamber had applied for the CTC, stressing that until the document was received and studied, the Senate would not take a position on the matter.

The senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District said: “The Senate had applied for the CTC since Monday. We expect to get the document, and once we get it, we are going to comply with the content of the court order.

“But first, the Senate will sit and consider the contents of the CTC, and when we look at the contents, then we shall take a position.”