Godsent Ogbebor
Senate Orders Unsealing of Natasha’s Office After Suspension
The Senate has directed the unsealing of the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, months after her suspension sparked public debate and legal battles.
Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms at the National Assembly, Alabi Adedeji, carried out the order on Tuesday, confirming it was a directive from the Senate leadership. He announced the move in a brief video circulated to journalists.
Though Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu declined to give details, sources within the chamber said the decision followed the expiration of the six-month suspension imposed on Natasha in March. Pressure from civil society groups, legal advocates, and women’s rights activists had mounted in recent weeks for her reinstatement.
Lawmakers were said to be divided in a closed-door meeting on Monday, with some insisting on her unconditional return, others demanding an apology, and a faction calling for an extension of her suspension pending an appeal court ruling on the matter.
Read also: Again, Senate Blocks Natasha Akpoti’s Return Pending Appeal Court Ruling
The suspension had attracted widespread criticism, with legal scholars such as Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) describing it as unconstitutional and a breach of representative democracy. They argued that keeping Natasha away from plenary amounted to denying the people of Kogi Central their right to representation.
Civil society groups also maintained that the sanction undermined due process, while critics linked it to her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, an accusation the Senate firmly denied, saying the suspension was purely for misconduct and defiance of its rules.
Political observers say the latest decision is a test of how the Senate balances discipline within its ranks with its duty to uphold democratic principles. Natasha’s case, they note, will influence future debates on legislative accountability and the limits of parliamentary power.
Her fate now rests on whether the leadership allows her immediate resumption or awaits a judicial ruling, but Tuesday’s development has opened the door for her return to active legislative duty.
