The legal team of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has issued a blistering demand for her immediate reinstatement to the Senate, warning that continued obstruction by the National Assembly could trigger serious legal consequences.
In a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Michael Jonathan Numa, SAN, described the refusal to allow Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume duties after her fixed six-month suspension as unconstitutional and unlawful. The counsel criticized the Clerk for misapplying the sub judice rule to block the implementation of court judgments in her favor.
The letter underscores the Federal High Court’s March ruling and Justice Binta Nyako’s July judgment, which both declared the suspension excessive and invalid, directing the Senate to restore her rights. Despite these rulings, administrative actions had continued to deny her access and emoluments, the lawyers said.
“The Constitution does not empower the Clerk, or any Senate official, to override the will of the electorate or extend a concluded suspension,” the letter stressed. It further warned that failure to comply by 15th September 2025 would prompt contempt proceedings, disciplinary action, and other remedies.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyers framed the ongoing obstruction as part of a pattern of judicial defiance, asserting that her resumption does not prejudice any pending appeals. They argued that denying her seat is effectively punishing her twice for the same alleged misconduct.
The development sets the stage for a potential high-stakes confrontation between the judiciary and the National Assembly, drawing national attention to questions of constitutional supremacy, parliamentary authority, and the rights of elected officials.