Senator Natasha Vows To Return To Senate Despite Akpabio’s Appeal

Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has vowed to resume plenary on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in defiance of an ongoing appeal filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio against a court ruling that voided her suspension from the upper legislative chamber.

Speaking to journalists during a weekend training programme in her constituency, the embattled federal lawmaker confirmed she had formally notified the Senate of her intent to resume after months of absence.

“Yes, the senate president did appeal the entire judgement.One of the grounds he appealed was that the Federal High court has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter in the first place because it is an issue that concerns the National Assembly,” she said.

“I have pretty much two more months before the six months expire. However, I have written to the Senate again telling them that I’m resuming on the 22nd, which is on Tuesday, by the special grace of God.”

“I will be there, because the court did make the decision on that. Now, they argue that it is not an order, but it is a decision and if you look at section 318 of the constitution, it did state that a recommendation forms part of a decision of a court,” she added.

LEADERSHIP reports that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate in March 2025 over allegations of misconduct, a move her legal team challenged in court. A recent ruling declared the suspension illegal, paving the way for her return. But Senate President Akpabio has since appealed the ruling.

While acknowledging that the suspension hampered her legislative functions, she insisted that it did not prevent her from serving her constituents.

“I did mention that every senator has three major functions, legislative, which is the creation of laws and review of treaties; oversight, which is to oversee ministers and agencies; and representation, which I’m doing,” she explained.

“Whereby I identify the problems and the challenges of my community, and I make sure I present them and have them captured in the federal budget. And I have done pretty well with that. Of course, I do miss putting up my bills there, but it didn’t stop me from working.”