Security was visibly tightened at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Tuesday amid expectations of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to plenary.
The Kogi Central lawmaker, currently under a six-month suspension, had earlier written to the Senate leadership announcing her intention to resume legislative duties on July 22, following a recent court ruling that described her suspension as excessive.
In response, armed security operatives have been deployed in large numbers, mounting rigorous checks at the complex’s main gates. Staff and visitors were thoroughly screened, with several entry points under close surveillance.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, after the Senate, through its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, found her guilty of breaching Standing Orders. She was accused of speaking without recognition, refusing to take her designated seat, and engaging in what the Senate termed “unruly and disruptive conduct.”
Despite a Federal High Court ruling questioning the severity of the sanction, the Senate warned Akpoti-Uduaghan to stay away until a final resolution is reached.
The embattled senator, however, appears undeterred. In addition to notifying the Senate of her planned return, she has written to the Inspector-General of Police, requesting the reinstatement of her official security detail.
