Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been stopped from entering the National Assembly premises in fulfilment of her vow to resume work today, Tuesday, 22 July 2025.
It would be recalled that the embattled senator is on a six-month suspension imposed by the leadership of the Senate for unparliamentary conduct.
She had had a shouting match with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, after the latter reassigned her seat.
Senator Natasha protested that her seat was reassigned as a way of victimising her.
Akpabio, however, insisted that the reassignment was a routine exercise necessitated by some changes in the red chamber, such as cross-carpeting by some members.
Senator Natasha later alleged that she was being victimised because she turned down Akpabio’s amorous advances.
The Senate president’s wife sued the senator over this allegation. The case is still pending.
The Senate committee set up to probe her action on the floor of the Senate found her guilty as charged and recommended a six-month suspension.
She approached the court to have the decision reversed and finally secured a favourable verdict a couple of weeks ago.
The court ruled that her six-month suspension was an infringement of the right of her constituents to be fully represented in the chamber.
The court also held her in contempt of court for writing a sarcastic letter to the Senate President after she had filed a case in court.
The court fined her N5million and asked her to apologise in national dailies.
A Senate spokesperson said she had to abide by the order asking her to apologise before the Senate would consider readmitting her.
The Senate president has since appealed the decision of the court reinstating her.
Last week, Senator Natasha announced that she would be resuming her duties today.
True to her words, she showed up at the National Assembly complex, ready to go in to take her seat.
Security officials stopped her vehicle from entering the complex. The embattled senator then disembarked from the vehicle and walked inside the complex with her supporters.
