A senior legal practitioner, Teejani Jimoh, has called on the leadership of the National Assembly to permit Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to return to her legislative duties following the completion of her six-month suspension.
Jimoh emphasized that the disciplinary measure, which began on March 6, 2025, had already lapsed by September 6, 2025. However, according to him, the clerk’s office informed the senator that her resumption was being withheld because of a pending matter before the Court of Appeal.
The lawyer maintained that the absence of a formal court order halting her reinstatement makes it unlawful to continue barring her from representing her constituents. He explained that once a fixed-term suspension expires, a legislator should be allowed to resume work unless explicitly restrained by a judicial directive.
“In our assessment, the sanction imposed earlier this year has run its full course. An appeal alone cannot serve as a legal justification to deny a lawmaker her seat. The people she represents should not remain without a voice in the Senate due to procedural delays,” Jimoh noted.
Calls intensify for the UK to investigate Israeli President Herzog amid allegations of war crimes in Gaza.
Tinubu Dismisses Presidential Aide Fagbo Umunubo Over Fraud in Nigeria’s Creative SectorPresident Tinubu terminates aide Fagbo Umunubo following allegations of mismanagement and fraud in Nigeria’s creative industry.
Speaker Abbas Urges Stronger Oversight on Nigeria’s Public DebtHouse Speaker Abbas calls for improved monitoring and transparency over Nigeria’s growing public debt to protect taxpayers.
He further highlighted earlier judicial pronouncements where extended suspensions were criticized, stressing that Nigeria’s democratic framework requires consistent representation of citizens in parliament. Jimoh referenced a July 2025 judgment of the Federal High Court, in which the presiding judge described Natasha’s suspension as excessive. Although that ruling stopped short of ordering her immediate recall, it underscored the principle of fair representation.
Jimoh appealed directly to the National Assembly, urging lawmakers to respect the expiration of the suspension and allow the legal challenge to run its course independently. According to him, such a move would reflect fairness and uphold democratic values without undermining the ongoing judicial process.
He added that reinstating Senator Natasha would not prejudice the outcome of the appeal but rather protect the rights of her constituents who have already endured half a year without their elected voice in the red chamber.
The call has rekindled debates over the boundaries of legislative authority, the protection of opposition voices, and the wider implications of prolonged suspensions in a democratic setting. Political observers argue that how the National Assembly responds could set an important precedent for the treatment of lawmakers in future disciplinary cases.
📌 What’s your opinion? Should Natasha be allowed to resume her duties immediately now that the suspension has expired?
💬 Share your thoughts in the comments and follow Naijaheadline for more verified updates on Nigerian politics.
