Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi Central, on Tuesday, made her first appearance at the upper chamber as plenary resumed today after being suspended for six months. The Senate had resumed plenary today after a ten-week annual recess, stopping all deliberations on several key aspects.
Dressed in white attire with matching head ties and black sunglasses, Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan was warmly received by several senators, including Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), Ogoshi Onawo (PDP, Nasarawa), Gbenga Daniel (APC, Ogun East), and Samaila Dahuwa (PDP, Bauchi North), who exchanged handshakes with her.
The senator was suspended on 6 March for six months following the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
The committee accused her of defying the chamber’s sitting arrangement and engaging in alleged misconduct during a plenary session on 20 February. Her protest that day over the reassignment of her seat led to a disruption of proceedings.
Apart from suspending her, the Senate also withdrew her security aides, locked her office, suspended her salary and allowances, and barred her from entering the National Assembly complex.
Her return followed the unsealing of her office, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing, by the Deputy Director of the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji.
