Natasha Akpoti Senate suspension sparks drama as security blocks her return. What the court ruled, why she was suspended, and what happens next.
In a dramatic turn of events, suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, clashed with security agents at the National Assembly on Tuesday,
July 23, 2025, as she attempted to resume legislative duties following a controversial court ruling.
The Natasha Akpoti Senate suspension saga has continued to dominate Nigeria’s political scene,
raising critical questions about legislative authority, the rule of law, and the boundaries of executive enforcement.
Clash at the National Assembly Gate
Senator Natasha Akpoti, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representative,
showed up at the National Assembly complex accompanied by prominent activist Aisha Yesufu and a crowd of supporters.
The group was met with a locked gate and a tight security blockade mounted by mobile police officers (MOPOL), allegedly acting on “orders from above.”
Denied vehicular entry, Akpoti parked outside the complex and attempted to walk through the heavily fortified gate.
She successfully passed the first security checkpoint but was stopped at the second barrier, just steps away from the Senate chambers.
The confrontation halted movement across the complex, leaving National Assembly workers and visitors stranded for hours.
What Triggered the Natasha Akpoti Senate Suspension?
Senator Akpoti was suspended on March 6, 2025, after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment during plenary.
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen (APC, Edo South), recommended a six-month suspension, which the Senate promptly adopted.
Her legislative privileges were revoked, salaries suspended, security withdrawn, and office sealed.
The suspension also affected her aides, whose salaries were halted. Akpoti’s suspension sparked national outrage,
especially among rights groups who accused the Senate of using authoritarian tactics to silence a whistleblower.
Court Ruling vs Senate Defiance
Akpoti challenged her suspension at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Binta Nyako ruled that while the Senate acted within its rights, the six-month suspension was “excessive” and had the potential to violate her constitutional duties as an elected lawmaker.
However, the ruling was advisory in nature. It did not issue a binding order for her immediate reinstatement.
Moreover, the court found her guilty of contempt for a satirical apology posted on Facebook and fined her ₦5 million, with a mandatory public apology to be published in two national dailies.
Despite the ruling, the Senate maintains that it is under no legal obligation to lift the Natasha Akpoti Senate suspension before its expiration.
According to Senate Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, “There is no subsisting court order mandating the Senate to recall her before the expiration of her suspension.”
Natasha Fires Back: ‘My Suspension Was Fraudulent’
Speaking to journalists after being denied entry, Senator Natasha Akpoti condemned what she described as “an illegal, fraudulent suspension.”
According to her, the Senate’s decision lacked transparency and proper documentation.
She claimed the report recommending her suspension was merely a photocopied attendance sheet disguised as official documentation.
“The judgment came in two parts,” Akpoti said. “One addressed the contempt charge; the other focused on the legality of my suspension.
The judge clearly stated that a six-month suspension would prevent me from performing my constitutional duties, making it an excessive and unfair penalty.”
Referring to Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution, she noted that every senator must attend a minimum of 181 sitting days per year.
By keeping her out of office for six months, Akpoti argues, the Senate has effectively robbed her constituents of their right to representation.
Activist Aisha Yesufu Challenges the Police
Aisha Yesufu, known for her fearless activism during the EndSARS protests, confronted security officers at the gate. She questioned their role in denying access to a duly elected senator.
“Is this the Nigeria you want to build?” she asked a police officer. “You’re destroying the future of your children by supporting lawlessness. This building belongs to all Nigerians.”
Her passionate speech, captured in multiple viral videos, reignited public discourse around state-sponsored repression and gender bias in Nigerian politics.
Legal Experts Weigh In: Can She Enforce the Ruling?
Senior lawyer Ken Harries told reporters that Akpoti cannot enforce the judgment while simultaneously appealing parts of it.
“You can’t cherry-pick,” he said. “If you’ve appealed a court judgment, you cannot selectively enforce the favorable parts while ignoring the punitive elements.”
He added that Akpoti’s failure to pay the ₦5 million fine and issue the required apologies undermines her moral and legal standing in claiming Senate noncompliance.
Harries warned against resorting to self-help tactics and urged Akpoti’s legal team to pursue lawful channels if they seek enforcement or clarification of the judgment.
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What Next for Natasha Akpoti?
With the National Assembly heading into a two-month recess, Akpoti fears that her suspension may effectively run its full course, making any legal victory moot.
Despite this, she remains determined to pursue justice through the appellate court.
“The National Assembly is going into recess, which means my suspension would have been served by default,” she stated. “But I am not giving up.
I will approach the appellate court for clarity and continue to fight for my right to represent my people.”
Political Implications of the Natasha Akpoti Senate Suspension
This latest clash highlights growing concerns over legislative overreach, gender discrimination, and the abuse of power in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Analysts argue that the Natasha Akpoti Senate suspension exposes the limits of judicial influence in a legislature that often operates with minimal checks and balances.
More broadly, it raises questions about the protection of whistleblowers, especially women, in Nigeria’s male-dominated political sphere.
A Nation Watching
As the case unfolds, all eyes remain on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and her legal team.
Whether the appellate court will affirm or overturn the lower court’s verdict remains to be seen.
What is clear, however, is that this battle is no longer just about a suspended senator it’s about the soul of Nigeria’s democracy.
What’s Your Take on the Natasha Akpoti Senate Suspension?
Do you think the Senate is overreaching its powers, or is Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan wrong to defy protocol?
Drop your thoughts in the comments.
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