“Office Unsealed, Access Uncertain” — Sergeant-At-Arms Unlocks Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Senate Suite After Six-Month Suspension

The National Assembly has unsealed the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, months after her suspension from the 10th Senate.

Her office, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing, was reopened on Tuesday morning by the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, alongside combined security personnel. In a video shared, Adedeji could be seen removing the red seal from the office door, declaring:

“I, Alabi Adedeji, deputy director, sergeant-at-arms, hereby unseal the office. The office is hereby unsealed. Thank you.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, for six months over alleged breaches of Senate rules after protesting against the reassignment of her seat by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Though her suspension formally ended in September, she was denied resumption due to opposition from Senate leadership and pending litigation.

In July, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ruled that the suspension was “excessive and unconstitutional,” ordering her recall. The court emphasized that keeping a senator away for six months amounted to denying constituents representation. Despite the ruling, Senate management maintained that she could not resume without either a fresh Senate resolution or a definitive appellate decision.

Sources told TheNigeriaLawyer that the reopening of her office is a preparatory step toward her possible return when the Senate resumes plenary on October 7, 2025. A leadership meeting reportedly agreed that a motion will be moved, likely by Minority Leader Abba Moro, asking her to tender an apology before reinstatement.

Following her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan—then chair of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs—took her case to court. Her counsel, Michael Jonathan Numa, SAN, wrote to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamorudeen Ogunlana, warning that failure to recall her by September 15 would result in legal action, including contempt proceedings and other sanctions.

Responding, Ogunlana clarified through the Director of Information, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, that as Clerk he lacked the authority to reverse or interpret Senate resolutions, stressing that the power to determine her return rests solely with the Senate.

With her office now unsealed, Akpoti-Uduaghan may soon return to legislative duties, though her full reinstatement depends on whether the Senate leadership follows through on the pending motion at resumption.

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