Former lawmaker Shehu Sani has reacted to the controversy over the resumption of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the National Assembly.
Sani said the senator’s return remains uncertain as long as her case is still pending before the court.
“If the pending court issues have to be resolved before the Kogi senator resumes, then the resumption has no date.
“Once a senator is suspended, the suspension dagger will be looking for the neck of any senator who wants to stand up and be another hero.
“That’s why you will see your opposition senators just pull back and chill,” he wrote.
This newspaper reported that the National Assembly, on Tuesday, rejected Akpoti-Uduaghan’s notification of her intention to resume legislative duties.
In a letter dated September 4, 2025, and signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, the Senate stated that her six-month suspension remains in force until the Court of Appeal delivers judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, had argued that her suspension ended on September 4.
However, the Senate clarified that the sanction, which was imposed on March 6, 2025, followed allegations of insubordination after she rejected a seat change during plenary.
The chamber maintained that the matter is sub judice and would only be reviewed once the court rules on the case.