Suspended Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has announced plans to take her legal fight to the Court of Appeal after being denied entry into the National Assembly on Tuesday—despite a Federal High Court ruling in her favor.
She had arrived at the Assembly, ready to resume her duties based on the decision by Justice Binta Nyako, but was stopped at the gate by security officials. The incident drew immediate reactions from her supporters and onlookers.
Addressing reporters, a visibly frustrated Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the leadership of undermining the court’s authority.
“Akpabio isn’t above the Constitution. I was elected by the people of Kogi, not appointed by the Senate President,” she stated. “The court’s judgment stands unless it’s overturned—and that hasn’t happened.”
She condemned the Senate’s refusal to honor the court ruling, describing it as a direct threat to democratic principles.
“This is more than just a denial of entry—it’s a message,” she said. “How can lawmakers so casually ignore the laws they swore to uphold?”
Akpoti-Uduaghan also criticized the initial process that led to her suspension, calling it “deeply flawed” and “without proper legal grounding.”
Determined to push forward, she said her next step would be to seek legal interpretation from a higher court.
“I’ll consult my legal team and move this to the Court of Appeal. I believe in due process, and I’ll continue to fight for what’s right—within the law.”
At the time of this report, the Senate leadership had not released any official statement on the matter.
