By Prosper Mene
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the representative of Kogi Central Senatorial District, stepped back into her office today after enduring a contentious six-month suspension.
The move marks the end of a turbulent chapter that began with allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and escalated into a high-stakes legal and political showdown.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, arrived at the Senate wing around 1:10 p.m., her presence met with a mix of subdued anticipation and lingering tension.
Earlier in the day, Sergeant-at-Arms personnel, backed by security operatives, unsealed her office, Room 205, which had been locked since March as part of the punitive measures.
Although full plenary sessions are slated to resume on October 7 following a recent postponement from September 23, the early access signals a receding tension in the frosty relations between the senator and the chamber’s leadership.
Speaking to journalists from her freshly unsealed office, Akpoti-Uduaghan wasted no time in addressing rumors that she would be required to tender a public apology before fully reinstating her privileges. “I owe no apology,” she declared, her voice steady and unyielding. “This Senate has been run like a dictatorship under Senate President Akpabio. My suspension was never about rules, it was retaliation for speaking truth to power.” She accused the leadership of contempt of court, referencing a July Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that nullified her suspension as unconstitutional and ordered her immediate recall, a decision the Senate appealed, stalling her return until now.
She extended gratitude to a coalition of supporters, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and various civil society activists. “Their voices turned the tide,” she said.
Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, confirmed earlier this month that all legal hurdles had been cleared, with the suspension’s expiration on September 6 rendering ongoing appeals moot. “Everything is in place for her smooth return,” Giwa stated, adding that arrangements with Senate leadership ensured no further obstructions.
