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The Centre for Leadership Training (CLT) has cautioned Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against attempting to return to the Senate before the conclusion of her ongoing case at the Court of Appeal.
The group maintained that her suspension remains in force and backed the Senate’s decision to await the court’s pronouncement before taking any further action.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, CLT President, Chief Azuka Francis, said it was premature for the lawmaker to plan her return before September 6, noting that such a move would contradict the Senate’s resolution.
“First, Senator Natasha’s stated resumption date is erroneous. Her suspension, as resolved by the Senate, runs its full course until Saturday, September 6, 2025. It is therefore premature and inconsistent with the Senate’s resolution for her to attempt a return before the expiration of the subsisting sanction,” Francis said.
The Senate had earlier communicated its position to Natasha in a letter dated September 4, 2025, signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria. The letter stated that since her suspension was already a subject of litigation, she could not resume until the appellate court delivered judgment.
“The subject matter of your suspension is presently before the Court of Appeal. The matter therefore remains sub judice, and until the judicial process is concluded and the Senate formally reviews the suspension in the light of the Court’s pronouncement, no administrative action can be taken by this office to facilitate your resumption,” the Clerk wrote.
Natasha had earlier written to the Clerk indicating her readiness to return to plenary, insisting that her six-month suspension, which began on March 6, had elapsed.
However, CLT urged all parties to respect the judicial process and exercise patience until the appellate court delivers its verdict.
“As a law-abiding institution founded on the principles of constitutionalism, separation of powers, and respect for judicial authority, the Senate cannot, and will not, act in a manner that prejudices the ongoing judicial process,” Francis said.
He stressed that the integrity of democratic institutions could only be preserved through due process.
“The Senate remains firmly committed to fairness, discipline, and the sanctity of its internal rules, while at the same time demonstrating absolute fidelity to the Nigerian Constitution and the authority of the courts. Until the judiciary has made its final pronouncement, all parties must exercise patience, respect due process, and uphold the integrity of democratic institutions,” he added.
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