Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate for six months over alleged violations of its standing rules.
The suspension, recommended by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, also stripped her of aides, office privileges and salaries.
Her suspension attracted a lot of reactions, with many especially civil society organisations and opposition politicians condemning the action by the Senate.
She approached the court in July over the matter and made an unsuccessful attempt to resume sitting.
While the matter is still in court, the Kogi Senator served out her six months suspension this September and declared her intention to return to her duty.
The National Assembly has unsealed the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing.
The office was unsealed on Tuesday by the Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, potentially paving the way for the Kogi Central Senator to return to the Red Chamber when plenary resumes on October 7, 2025.
“To unseal Senator Natasha Akpoti’s office, I, Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director, Sergeant-at-Arms, hereby unseal the office,” said the Sergeant-at-Arms before unlocking the door to the office, which had been under seal for six months.
About two weeks ago, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan wrote to the Senate, informing it of her intention to resume.
However, the lawmakers, while acknowledging her letter, said they would not take action on it until the end of the court process.
Reacting to the Senate’s decision, the former commissioner accused it of double standards, citing a court verdict that ruled her suspension as unconstitutional.
“You cannot blow hot and cold at the same time. You cannot say the courts should not interfere in your internal affairs and then turn around to rely on the court process to delay compliance with your own rules. Six months should be six months, no discussion, no hesitation,” Jacobs argued.
He criticised the Senate for frustrating the judicial process through unending objections and preliminary filings in the case, rather than allowing the substantive issues to be heard.
“They keep filing one objection or the other to make sure we don’t get to a hearing. If they believe they have evidence against her, let the matter proceed in court. But you can’t keep the case stalled and at the same time deny her return after the suspension period has lapsed,” he told the morning show crew from the nation’s capital of Abuja.”
