The Nigerian Senate has firmly rejected any move by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to return to legislative duties, declaring that there is no legal basis for her resumption.
This was the Senate’s response to a letter dated July 11, 2025, authored by the law firm Numa S.A.N. & Co. on behalf of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, which hinged its request on Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The letter claimed that the July 4 judgment of Justice Binta Nyako constituted a binding directive for the senator’s immediate recall to the chamber on Tuesday, July 15.
But in a sharp rebuttal, Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, made it clear that the Certified True Copy of the court’s Enrolled Order contained no such directive.
He stated that the judgment did not include any express or mandatory order directing the recall or reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
He emphasized that Justice Nyako’s ruling only offered non-binding, advisory remarks on the suspension’s duration, and did not in any way strip the Senate of its constitutional powers.
According to the Senate, nowhere in the court judgment was there a declaratory or injunctive order compelling the Senate to recall the suspended lawmaker.
Adaramodu stressed that while the Senate will review the judgment and take a constitutionally informed position, it will not be railroaded into premature decisions based on misinterpretations of the law.
The Senate reiterated that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has no legal standing to resume legislative duties at this time.
Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie
