Human rights lawyer, Teejani Jimoh, Esq., has called on the National Assembly to reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following the expiration of her six-month suspension from legislative duties. The suspension, handed down on March 6, 2025, officially lapsed on September 6, 2025, yet the senator has reportedly been barred from returning to her seat. According to Jimoh, the clerk’s office informed her that she could not resume because the case is still pending at the Court of Appeal.
Jimoh, however, strongly disagreed with this stance, stressing that in the absence of a specific court order halting her return, Natasha ought to be allowed to immediately resume her constitutional role. “A fixed-term suspension expires by effluxion of time, and without a stay order, there is no legal justification for preventing her resumption,” he said. The lawyer argued that prolonging her absence from the Red Chamber deprives her constituents of proper representation and undermines democratic principles.
Citing relevant judicial precedents, Jimoh recalled previous rulings that curtailed prolonged suspensions imposed on lawmakers, emphasizing that Nigerian courts have repeatedly warned against leaving entire constituencies voiceless. He further referenced a July 2025 Federal High Court ruling where a judge described Natasha’s suspension as excessive, though the judgment stopped short of ordering her immediate recall. This, he said, strengthens the argument that the suspension had already been deemed controversial even before its expiry.
The lawyer also pointed out that allowing the senator to return would not prejudice the ongoing appeal but rather uphold her constitutional right to represent her people until the matter is conclusively determined by the courts. He urged the leadership of the National Assembly to respect both the rule of law and the spirit of fairness, adding that refusing her re-entry after the suspension has ended raises serious legal and moral questions.
With mounting public pressure and repeated calls from civil society groups for Natasha’s recall, Jimoh’s intervention adds further weight to the debate. Many political observers believe the National Assembly’s handling of the matter could set a significant precedent for how legislative suspensions are implemented and reviewed in the future. For now, all eyes remain on the Senate leadership and the judiciary as the standoff continues.
