The Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly has stated that it does not have the authority to decide whether suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan can return to her duties. The office made this clear in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
The Director of Information, Mullah Bi-Allah, who spoke on behalf of the Clerk’s office, explained that its role is purely administrative and that it cannot review or change any decisions made by the Senate.
“The Clerk does not possess the authority to review, reverse or interpret Senate decisions,” the statement read.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central and is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, was suspended by the Senate on 6th March 2025. The resolution barred her from parliamentary activities for six months.
Although the suspension was challenged in court, the Federal High Court did not overturn the decision. The case is currently awaiting a ruling at the Court of Appeal.
On 4th September, the senator wrote to the Clerk of the National Assembly, informing the office of her plan to resume work. However, the Clerk’s office responded by stating that such a communication should have been directed to the Senate President, in line with standard parliamentary procedure.
The statement further noted, “This office conveyed the same to the Senate leadership, who noted that the matter remains before the Court of Appeal (sub judice), and that any change in status must either come from a fresh Senate resolution or a definitive court order. This communication was what the Clerk to the National Assembly conveyed in the letter, no more, no less. The Clerk is therefore not in a position to facilitate her resumption at this time.”
The office also expressed disappointment over a petition it received from the senator’s lawyers, M. J. Numa & Partners LLP, which accused it of overstepping its authority and threatened disciplinary action.
In response, Bi-Allah stressed, “It must be emphasised that the determination of whether Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan can resume her legislative duties as of right without any further or fresh resolution of the Senate following the expiration of her six months suspension lies solely with the Senate and not with the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly.”
Reaffirming its neutral position, the statement added that the Clerk’s office remains guided by “the principles of constitutionalism, institutional respect and the rule of law.” It also urged the public to allow both the Senate and the courts to resolve the matter.
Discussion about this post