Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan warns of legal action against NASS Clerk, demanding reinstatement after suspension amid ongoing court and Senate disputes.
Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has warned she will sue the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Kamorudeen Ogunlana, if she is not allowed to resume her legislative duties by Monday, 15 September 2025.
In a letter dated 10 September 2025, her lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), demanded that the senator be reinstated immediately following the expiration of her six-month suspension. He warned that any further obstruction could lead to legal action against the Clerk personally and in his official capacity.
The letter, which cited an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and disobedience to a subsisting court order, threatened to initiate proceedings for contempt of court, disciplinary measures, and other remedies under Nigerian law.
“We strongly advise you to reconsider your untenable stance and comply with the Constitution and existing judicial orders,” the lawyer wrote.
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Acting Clerk Cites Ongoing Court Case
Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s warning came after a letter from Yahaya Danzaria, Acting Clerk of the National Assembly, who explained she could not resume yet because her suspension is still before the court and can only be resolved after a Senate review or a judicial conclusion. Danzaria acted in Ogunlana’s stead while the CNA is out of the country.
Although the senator had already notified the National Assembly of her intention to resume, there are indications the Senate may block her return on 23 September when plenary resumes, citing the pending litigation.
Senator’s Counsel Accuses Clerk of Overreach
Her legal team argued that the Clerk’s office has no constitutional power to prevent her resumption. According to the letter, the Clerk’s duties are administrative — recording and implementing decisions — and not legislative. The lawyer stressed there was no Senate resolution extending the suspension or imposing new sanctions.
Court Rulings and Appeals
In July 2025, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ruled that suspending an elected lawmaker for six months effectively denies constituents their right to representation. However, the judge stopped short of ordering Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement, instead advising the Senate to reconsider its action.
The court also found the senator in civil contempt over a social media post deemed disrespectful, fining her ₦5 million and ordering a public apology. She has appealed the judgment.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio filed a cross-appeal challenging the Federal High Court’s intervention. His legal team argues the court lacks jurisdiction over the Senate’s internal disciplinary processes and that the senator failed to exhaust internal remedies before approaching the judiciary.
What’s Next
The legal standoff has heightened tension within the National Assembly as observers await the outcome of the court processes and the Senate’s stance when it reconvenes later in September.
