Natasha rejects apology as condition for Senate resumption

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has dismissed reports that her return to plenary is contingent on an apology to the Senate leadership.The Kogi Central lawmaker stated this on Tuesday after resuming at her office in the National Assembly.

Her office, Room 205 in the Senate Wing, was officially reopened by the Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, on the directive of Senate leadership.

In a video circulated to journalists, Adedeji declared:

“I, Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director, Sergeant-at-Arms, National Assembly, having been directed to unseal the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, hereby unseal the office.”

The office had remained locked since March following her six-month suspension for alleged misconduct. Pressure from within and outside the chamber is believed to have forced leadership to act, though senators remain divided.

While some back immediate reinstatement, others insist she must apologise, with a third bloc arguing the suspension should continue pending a Court of Appeal ruling.

Addressing journalists, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she had not received any official communication on conditions for her resumption.

“The last communication I got from the clerk was that I would not be allowed access to resume because the matter was still pending at the Appeal Court,” she said.

“So I’m still awaiting a letter. I read in the papers that the leadership meeting yesterday suggested I apologise. I’m actually worried as to what apology they need from me. You can’t apologise for injustice.”