After her six-month suspension, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents the Kogi Central constituency, is set to return to the National Assembly later this month.
Her lawyer, Mr. Victor Giwa, confirmed this to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, September 7.
Giwa stated that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan was in London on vacation but had already planned to rejoin her colleagues for plenary duties when the Senate reconvenes on September 23.
“She is ready to resume her term. She is in London. Everything is in place, and the six months have expired. The only thing left is her resumption,” Giwa said.
The lawyer also said he would not expect the Senate leadership to block her return to the upper chamber.
“We have been told that even the leadership of the Senate is ready to welcome her. So that is the situation at the moment. There is no obstacle at all,” he assured.
Persecondnews recalls that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6 following allegations of insubordination after she rejected a change of her designated seat during plenary.
The suspension, based on recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, also stripped her of aides, office privileges, and salaries.
The lawmaker had previously claimed her suspension was a result of her petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, an accusation the Senate has rejected.
After challenging the suspension in court, she obtained a judgment that she said supported her immediate return.
However, the Senate leadership insisted that she would remain suspended until her six-month penalty was completed.
In July, her attempt to enter the National Assembly with a crowd of supporters failed when security personnel blocked her from entering.
Now that the suspension has ended, her lawyer asserts that any remaining legal issues won’t prevent her from returning.
“Everything will be resolved. Even the court cases will become like an academic exercise,” Giwa said.
Persecondnews reports that the Senate leadership has yet to respond to Giwa’s statement as of the time of this report.
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