Two days after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was barred from resuming her duties, the Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, adjourned plenary till September 23, 2025, for its annual recess.
With the recess now in effect, the embattled Kogi senator is expected to serve out the remainder of her suspension until plenary resumes.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, for six months, following allegations of misconduct and insubordination during plenary on February 20, 2025, when she rejected a change to her designated seat.
The Senate had warned it might revisit her suspension if she failed to issue a formal apology.
The penalty was based on recommendations by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which found her guilty after investigating complaints against her.
The suspension was to last until September 6, 2025. However, with the recess, the embattled lawmaker would serve out her term.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, speaking to journalists on Tuesday after a failed attempt to enter the Senate chamber, described the Senate’s action as contemptuous and said she would seek legal redress at the appellate level.
“Even the suspension ab initio was fraudulent—the document was faulty,” she said.
“Going forward, I will have a meeting with my legal team so they can proceed to the appellate court to seek interpretation of what just happened. I am a law-abiding citizen.”
She also accused Senate President Akpabio of acting beyond his authority.
With the recess, however, the Senate would not reconvene until she had served out the full suspension slammed on her by the Red Chamber.
Announcing the break on the floor, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the decision was based on “chamber reciprocity,” noting that the House of Representatives had already proceeded on recess in line with the legislative calendar.
“We have started a new calendar that will take us to next year, June. And so it has fallen within this period for us to go on for a break to enable us to undertake major oversights,” Akpabio explained.
He clarified that although plenary sessions would be on hold, committee assignments should continue during the recess.
“All necessary committees—the diaspora committee, committee on reparation, committee on interior and others—this is the best time for you to undertake visits to prisons and all that.
“Do all your reports and make them available as soon as we come back,” he directed.
The Senate President urged lawmakers to embark on oversight visits across the country, stressing that their duties must not be neglected.
“You are moving from plenary for the next few weeks, but you are not stopping your legislative functions, because that’s what your people elected you to do. Members are expected to travel to Sokoto, everywhere, to observe the road repairs that are going on.
“By the time we resume, you are expected to bring your reports, committee by committee, for us to look into. I want to wish you safe travels and for all of us to return in good health,” he added.
Akpabio also informed members of the death of Prof Janet Plang, wife of Senator Diket Plang.
He said arrangements had been made for senators to travel to Plateau State on Friday to attend the funeral, with a plane scheduled to depart Abuja at 8 am.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele commended senators for their dedication to legislative work.
“We thank all our colleagues for all they have done to ensure that the business of lawmaking on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria has progressed smoothly,” Bamidele said.
He thereafter moved a motion to defer all other matters on the order paper to the next legislative day, which the Senate adopted unanimously.
Natasha delayed at airport
In a separate development, the embattled senator was reportedly delayed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, last Thursday while trying to board a flight to the United Kingdom.
A family source said immigration officers claimed she had been placed on a watch list at the instance of the National Assembly leadership.
“She was told that the leadership of the National Assembly requested that she be considered a flight risk and placed on a watch list,” the source said.
“We are wondering why they treated her that way, given there is no court order restricting her movement and she has never missed any of her court appearances.”
Eyewitnesses confirmed that Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared distressed and made a series of phone calls before she was eventually allowed to board after her passport was stamped.
When contacted shortly before takeoff, the senator confirmed the incident, saying, “The aircraft is about to take off.”
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