The Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly has distanced itself from claims that it has been preventing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her seat after her suspension lapsed. According to a statement from the Clerk’s Information Director, Bullah Bi-Allah, the Clerk’s office is purely administrative and does not have power to overturn Senate resolutions.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate on 6 March 2025 for six months, a decision which she later challenged in court. Though the matter is before the Court of Appeal, no court order has yet formally overturned her suspension.
On 4 September 2025, the Senator informed the Clerk of her intention to resume duties. The Clerk’s office forwarded her communication to the Senate leadership, which responded that the issue remains sub judice, meaning it is still under judicial consideration and thus cannot be acted upon until a definitive court ruling or new Senate resolution.
The Clerk’s statement emphasized that it has consistently acted within its legal mandate, adhering to constitutional limits and respecting the separation of administrative and legislative powers. Bi-Allah called on the public to allow the Senate and courts to resolve the matter.
