Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan will return to the Nigerian Senate after a six-month suspension ends.
Her attorney Victor Giwa said Senator Akpoti will return when the Senate meets on September 23. He went on to say that her return is unhindered by anything, and that Senate leadership has assured her that she will be warmly received.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is presently on a short vacation to London, but will return to Abuja before plenary begins.
She was suspended for insubordination on March 6, after she disregarded instructions to change the order of her seat in plenary, lost access to her office, her aides and received no salary.
Her suspension attracted a fair amount of publicity after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment before the Senate swiftly rejected the allegation. The suspension was described by observers as politically motivated, but the Senate described it as purely disciplinary.
The senator attempted to gain re-entry to the National Assembly in July, but was blocked entry by security personnel, this led to a stand-off outside with her supporters protesting.
Now that her suspension has expired, her lawyer stated that other legal actions relating to the suspension process are now purely academic exercises. He indicated that her mandate is in place, and she will properly represent her constituents when the chamber resumption meeting begins.
This may mean that the long suspension of the senator and the tension surrounding her absence from the Senate is now over. However, new questions about fairness, accountability in public politics, and the limitations of internal disciplinary measures in the legislature emerge.
For Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters in Kogi Central, this will be a welcome news, the suspension signals the return of representation from Kogi Central in the Senate after a lengthy period of political turmoil.
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