Sen. Natasha Suspended For Six Months, as Senate orders withdrawal of security personnel
Abuja (Core Reporters) The embattled Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was on Thursday suspended by the Nigerian senate, after her failed attempt to ridicule the institution.
Her suspension was sequel to the violation of the Red Chambers rules. Coupled with her alleged sexual harassment by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a claim the latter has denied.
“That the Senate do suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for her total violation of the Senate Standing Rules (2023 as amended for bringing the presiding officer and the entire Nigerian Senate to public opprobrium,” Senate President Godswill Akpabio said on Thursday while reading out the recommendations of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct probing her claims.
However, the lawmakers ruled that the suspension could be lifted or reduced if she tenders a written apology.
“For the Senate to consider lifting this suspension or reducing the tenure of the suspension, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan shall submit a written apology to the Senate before her reconsideration by the Nigerian Senate,” Akpabio said at the Red Chambers on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the senate agreed that her aides’ salaries be paid, contrary to the recommendation of the committee.
“ Senator Orji Kalu making a case for her aids said,”The aids of Natasha are not Natasha,” he therefore, called for an amendment to the sanctions. “It would be wrong for this Senate to deprive these aids of their allowances.”
Natasha left the chamber warning her colleagues saying “this injustice would not be sustained” And shortly after her comment she was escorted out of the chambers by the Sergeant-At-Arms.
Recall that it all began on February 20, 2025, after a seating arrangement dispute with Senator Akpabio. Thereafter, Senator Natasha accused the Senate president of sexual harassment and alleged abuse of office.
She submitted a petition on the floor of the upper lawmaking body on Wednesday. But the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions headed by Neda Imaseun (Edo South) dismissed her claims. It declared her petition “dead on arrival,” owing to what it described as a breach of due process and legal limitations.
According to the committee, the senator personally signed the petition, instead of getting someone else’s endorsement, thus rendering it “invalid”.
Meanwhile, the Senate leader Michael Opayemi admonished Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to use the period of her suspension to study the rule book of the Senate so that when she is back from the suspension she could be well informed of
