NASS Clerk Clarifies Role in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension, Resumption Bid

The Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly has clarified its position in the controversy surrounding the suspension and attempted resumption of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, insisting it lacks powers to reinstate her without due process. In a statement signed by Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, Director of Information, on behalf of the Clerk, the office said it had been wrongly portrayed in some media reports and public commentary as obstructing the senator’s return. “The Clerk’s Office serves strictly as an administrative arm, providing support to the Senate in accordance with their resolutions, Standing Orders, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). The Clerk does not possess the authority to review, reverse, or interpret Senate decisions,” the statement read. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was suspended for six months by the Senate on March 6, 2025. Although she challenged the action in court, the Federal High Court did not invalidate the suspension, and the matter remains before the Court of Appeal. On September 4, 2025, she wrote to the Clerk, notifying of her intention to resume legislative duties. The Clerk explained that while she could have directed such communication to the Senate President as protocol demands, the matter was duly conveyed to Senate leadership. According to the Clerk’s Office, the Senate leadership maintained that the issue remains sub judice, and any change in her status must come from either a new Senate resolution or a definitive court order. “This communication was what the Clerk to the National Assembly conveyed in the letter, no more, no less. The Clerk is therefore not in a position to facilitate her resumption at this time,” the statement clarified. The office also expressed concern over a letter from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal representatives, M.J. Numa & Partners LLP, accusing the Clerk of overreach and threatening legal and disciplinary action. “While the office respects the right of all parties to seek legal redress, it must be stressed that the Clerk has at all times acted within lawful administrative limits, and in faithful observance of due process,” it stated. Reiterating that the decision on her resumption rests solely with the Senate, the Clerk emphasized that its role is limited to administration and not adjudication. “The public is urged to remain patient and allow the appropriate institutions including the Senate and the courts to discharge their constitutional responsibilities,” the statement concluded.

Akpabio’s Wife Sues Senator Natasha for Defamation, Seeks ₦250bn Damages

Unoma Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has filed two lawsuits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accusing her of defamation and violating her fundamental human rights. The legal battle stems from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent claims that her challenges in the Senate began after she rejected alleged sexual advances from the Senate President. In the first case (Suit No: CV/814/25), filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, Mrs. Akpabio argued that the senator’s statements had subjected her and her children to emotional distress and fear for their safety.  She requested the court to rule that the allegations violated her right to dignity as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.  She is demanding ₦250 billion in damages and a permanent injunction to prevent further statements from Akpoti-Uduaghan. In a separate defamation case (Suit No: CV/816/25), Mrs. Akpabio refuted the senator’s allegations against her husband, calling them false and malicious.  She claimed that the accusations had brought her family into public disrepute. As part of her demands, she is seeking ₦1 billion in damages and a court order compelling Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish a public apology in The Guardian and ThisDay newspapers. “The allegations have caused untold pain and emotional trauma to me and my family,” Mrs. Akpabio stated in her court filings. The court has not yet scheduled a hearing for the cases. Tensions between the lawmakers escalated after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Senate seat was reassigned without prior notice, prompting her to protest during a plenary session.  The Senate later referred the issue to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, led by Senator Neda Imaseun of Edo South, for investigation, with a two-week deadline for its report. In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a ₦100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick.  Her legal counsel, Victor Giwa, argued that a Facebook post by Patrick titled “Is Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?” contained derogatory remarks implying that she viewed her Senate position as an opportunity to showcase makeup and revealing outfits. Giwa contended that the statement damaged her reputation among colleagues and the public. The controversy intensified when Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where she reiterated her claims of sexual harassment against the Senate President.  She alleged that colleagues had warned her to accept the seat change, suggesting it was part of a broader plot against her. Mrs. Akpabio has strongly denied the allegations, dismissing them as baseless and false.