In a dramatic turn of events, the Senate has unsealed the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, after a six-month suspension.
The Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms at the National Assembly, Alabi Adedeji, led the operation to unseal the office on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, for alleged misconduct and breaching the Senate’s Standing Orders. The suspension was met with widespread criticism, with many arguing that it was excessive and denied her constituents representation in the Senate. The suspension was set to expire in September 2025, but the senator’s return to the Senate was uncertain due to ongoing legal issues.
The unsealing of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office is seen as a significant development in the ongoing saga. According to sources, the decision to unseal the office was reached during a Senate leadership meeting on Monday, September 22, 2025. The move is expected to pave the way for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the Senate and her resumption of legislative duties.
There are indications that Akpoti-Uduaghan may be required to apologize to the Senate as a condition for her resumption. According to sources, a motion will be moved by the Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Abba Moro, for Akpoti-Uduaghan to tender an apology before she is fully reintegrated into the Senate. The motion is expected to be debated when the Senate resumes plenary sessions on October 7, 2025.
The unsealing of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office has been met with mixed reactions. While some have hailed the development as a positive step towards resolving the impasse, others have expressed concerns about the conditions that may be attached to her resumption. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Michael Jonathan Numa, SAN, had written to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamorudeen Ogunlana, demanding her reinstatement and warning of possible legal consequences if she is not recalled.
In July 2025, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the six-month suspension was excessive and unconstitutional. The judge ordered the Senate to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing the need to prevent her constituents from being unrepresented in the Senate. Despite the ruling, the Senate initially insisted that Akpoti-Uduaghan serve her full suspension.
The unsealing of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office marks a significant development in the ongoing saga. While the conditions for her resumption are still unclear, it is evident that the Senate is taking steps to resolve the impasse. As the Senate prepares to resume plenary sessions on October 7, 2025, all eyes will be on the proceedings to see how the matter is handled.
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Uzoma Jennifer, News Correspondent for News Global TV, Abuja.
