Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uuaghan has described as “lawbreakers” the Senate under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Natasha, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, on Tuesday, was denied entry into the Senate chambers, igniting a fresh constitutional standoff at the National Assembly.
Natasha, whose six-month suspension was recently nullified by a Federal High Court, accused the Senate leadership of outright defiance of a judicial pronouncement, declaring that the “Senate has become lawbreakers.”
However, her attempt to resume her legislative duties comes after a Federal High Court ruling on July 4, 2025, which declared her suspension unconstitutional and excessive.
The court’s ruling mandated her reinstatement, a verdict the senator had formally communicated to the Senate through two distinct letters, indicating her intention to resume on Tuesday, July 22.
Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly gate, Natasha expressed her resolve to reclaim her seat.
“It’s about me and a duly elected senator walking into the chambers to resume my constituted duties as I was elected and mandated by the good people of Kogi Central and INEC,” she stated, emphasising her mandate from her constituents.
Her attempt to enter the Senate was met with a significant deployment of security personnel.
“It’s unfortunate that we got in today, which is the 22nd of July, 2025, having duly notified the Senate through two letters that I will be resuming functions today.
“As a matter of fact, I’m disappointed on two grounds. One is the number of armed policemen that we met outside, you know, all well kitted with guns, who charged at a female senator who was unarmed.
“The second thing is the fact that the Senate, under the leadership of Akpabio, of course, has decided to become lawbreakers by denying entrance into the chambers to my team,” the senator asserted, directly challenging the integrity of the legislative body.
Natasha highlighted the legal consequences of the court’s judgement, addressing what she described as the Senate’s team’s attempts to “twist a narrative”.
Citing Section 318 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, she explained that a court’s “decision” includes more than just an “order”, such as judicial decrees, sentencing, convictions, and recommendations.
She contended that even if the court’s ruling was labelled a “recommendation”, it remained a binding judicial decision.
She cited Section 287, Subsection 3 of the 1999 Constitution, which states that “decisions…of any court” are binding on “every authority”.
She also disclosed that Akpabio had appealed the judgement.
Displaying a document to journalists, she clarified, “It is clear that it is not the National Assembly, nor is it the
Senate. It’s [Senator Akpabio] himself… The National Assembly has not appealed that judgement. The Senate has not appealed the judgement.”
She also revealed that Akpabio had included the National Assembly, the Senate, and the Ethics Committee as respondents in his appeal, hinting at a legal fight inside the Senate leadership itself.
