The Nigerian Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, efficient March 6, 2025, following allegations of violating Senate guidelines.
The suspension was primarily based on the suggestions of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions on Thursday.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whereas studying the committee’s suggestions, acknowledged:
“That the Senate do droop Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for her whole violation of the Senate Standing Guidelines (2023 as amended) for bringing the presiding officer and your entire Nigerian Senate to public opprobrium.”
Regardless of makes an attempt by some senators to scale back the suspension interval to 3 months, the Senate, by means of a majority vote, upheld the preliminary six-month resolution.
Further Penalties Imposed
Past the six-month suspension, the Senate imposed additional disciplinary measures on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, together with:
- Workplace Lockdown: Her Senate workplace will stay locked all through the suspension interval.
- Wage and Allowance Freeze: She won’t obtain any salaries or allowances for the six-month length.
- Safety Element Withdrawal: All official safety personnel hooked up to her shall be withdrawn.
- Ban from Official Illustration: She is barred from representing the Senate or collaborating in any occasions inside or outdoors Nigeria in an official capability.
- Prohibition from the Nationwide Meeting Advanced: She is restricted from getting into the Nationwide Meeting premises all through the suspension interval.
Again story
On 28 February 2025, the Kogi Central Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of constructing inappropriate advances in direction of her throughout a go to to his residence in December 2023.
- Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan detailed the occasions main as much as the incident, explaining that she was in Akwa Ibom alongside together with her husband and shut associates to attend Akpabio’s birthday celebration, which coincided with hers.
- In response to her, the go to started at Akpabio’s residence in Ikot Ekpene earlier than they moved to his residence in Uyo at round 8 PM. It was throughout this go to that she alleged the Senate President made inappropriate remarks and gestures in direction of her.
- Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier filed a lawsuit in opposition to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for alleged defamation.
- Akpoti-Uduaghan had raised issues after her Senate seat was reassigned following a reshuffle triggered by opposition members switching to the bulk wing.
She resisted the relocation, resulting in a confrontation between her and the Senate President.
The suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has sparked blended reactions inside the political panorama. Whereas some lawmakers and political analysts view the choice as a crucial enforcement of legislative self-discipline, others argue that the penalties are extreme and will set a precedent for stifling dissent inside the chamber.
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