Abuja, Nigeria — July 16, 2025 . Distinguished Senator Natasha H Akpoti -Uduaghan has issued a formal rejoinder to the National Assembly, urging its immediate compliance with a binding court judgment that declared her suspension from the Senate unlawful. The Senator’s correspondence, addressed to the Clerk and leadership of the National Assembly, also notifies her resumption on Monday, July 22, 2025, following the legislative body’s one-week recess to mourn the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The letter authored by M.J. Numa & Partners LLP on behalf of the Senator, strongly contests the National Assembly’s interpretation of the court’s ruling in FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 which had nullified her suspension. The rejoinder affirms that the Federal High Court’s decision was not an advisory opinion, as insinuated by the Assembly, but a clear and enforceable judicial directive under Nigerian constitutional law.
According to the legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Michael Jonathan Numa, the enrolled judgment order begins emphatically with “IT IS HEREBY ORDERED” and proceeds to give twelve distinct judicial directives—including a specific instruction in Order 12 that “the Senate should recall the Plaintiff.” While the term “should” was used, the legal team argued that the totality of the judgment’s context supports a mandatory—not discretionary—compliance.
The rejoinder emphasizes that the court’s decision falls squarely within the scope of Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which obligates all persons and authorities including the National Assembly to enforce and give full effect to the decisions of any court of competent jurisdiction. It adds that compliance with such orders is not a matter of political preference but a constitutional duty.
The letter also referenced prior reliefs sought by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team specifically those nullifying the findings and disciplinary actions of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions. The committee’s proceedings had culminated in her controversial suspension, a move that the court has since deemed unconstitutional and void.
Highlighting the implications of the court’s judgment, the rejoinder cited Section 1(3) of the Constitution, stating that any law or action inconsistent with constitutional provisions shall be null and void to the extent of its inconsistency. It further referenced judicial precedent, including Ecobank (Nig) Ltd v. Tempo Energy (Nig) Ltd (2025), as affirmation of the binding nature of judicial orders.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a statement through her legal representatives, expressed confidence in the rule of law and reaffirmed her commitment to legislative service. She stated that her return is not merely personal but a reaffirmation of democratic values and the sanctity of the judiciary.
“In light of the judgment, we respectfully urge you to revisit the enrolled order and advise the Senate to comply accordingly,” the rejoinder states, warning that continued disregard for the court’s decision could invite legal consequences. “Our client reserves the right to pursue all lawful measures to enforce her rights should this demand continue to be disregarded.”
The Senator noted that her physical return to the Red Chamber has been deferred until July 22 out of respect for the mourning period of the late President Buhari, GCON. Her decision, according to observers, reflects maturity, national sensitivity, and respect for democratic institutions even amidst personal injustice.
Reacting to the development, political analysts, civil rights advocates, and constitutional lawyers have hailed Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s stance as courageous and constitutionally sound. They argue that her case presents a defining moment for legislative accountability and judicial independence in Nigeria.
In Kogi Central and beyond, her reinstatement has been met with widespread celebration. Constituents described her suspension as a “targeted political witch-hunt” and hailed the court’s ruling as a victory not just for Natasha but for the ideals of justice, representation, and democratic resilience.
Will they comply with the judiciary’s pronouncement or risk escalating a constitutional confrontation ? Nigerians, especially those watching from the legal, civil, and political spheres, await the next steps with keen interest.
Senator Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the hallowed chambers of the Senate is more than a personal redemption; it is a powerful earnest to the endurance of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and a cue that in a nation governed by laws, justice, though delayed, must ultimately prevail.
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