By AFTER days of back and forth, the overbearing Nigeria National Assembly has finally 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, in what is seen as a significant step towards the Kogi Central lawmaker’s 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,” he announced before unlocking the door, which had been under seal for six months.
Recall that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months over alleged violations of the Senate’s standing rules.
The suspension, recommended by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, also stripped her of aides, office privileges, and salaries.
The decision attracted strong criticisms, particularly from civil society organisations and opposition politicians, who described it as undemocratic and autocratic.
In July, she approached the court to challenge her suspension and made an unsuccessful attempt to resume her duties.
Although the case is still in court, the Senator completed her six-month suspension this September and formally declared her intention to return to legislative work.
About two weeks ago, Akpoti-Uduaghan wrote to the Senate, notifying it of her readiness to resume.
However, while acknowledging her letter, the lawmakers said they would not take action until the conclusion of the court process.
Reacting to the Senate’s stance, her lawyer, Jacobs, accused the lawmakers of double standards, citing a court verdict that had declared her suspension 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 further accused the Senate of frustrating the judicial process through endless objections and preliminary filings instead of 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 cannot keep the case stalled and at the same time deny her return after the suspension period has lapsed,” he told the morning show crew in Abuja.
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