‘Only Senate Can Reinstate Senator Natasha’, Says NASS Clerk

The Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly has clarified its relation successful the ongoing contention surrounding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that lone the Senate has the authorization to reinstate the suspended lawmaker.

The Clerk, successful a connection connected Monday successful Abuja done the Director of Information, Mr. Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, emphasised that the bureau operates strictly arsenic an administrative assemblage without the powerfulness to reverse, interpret, oregon modify decisions made by the Senate.

“The Clerk does not person the authorization to review, reverse, oregon construe Senate decisions,” the connection read.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate connected March 6, 2025, for a play of six months. Although the substance was challenged successful court, the Federal High Court did not contented immoderate binding bid nullifying the suspension oregon compelling her reinstatement.

On September 4, 2025, the Senator formally notified the Clerk’s bureau of her volition to resume legislative duties.
However, the bureau noted that specified correspondence was typically addressed to the Senate President.

The Clerk forwarded the missive to the Senate leadership, which responded that her lawsuit was pending earlier the Court of Appeal and truthful sub judice.

“Any alteration successful presumption indispensable travel either from a caller Senate solution oregon a definitive tribunal order,” the Clerk’s bureau stated, adding that it was not successful a presumption to facilitate her instrumentality astatine this time.

In response, the Senator’s ineligible team, M.J. Numa & Partners LLP, accused the Clerk’s bureau of administrative overreach and threatened ineligible and disciplinary action.

However, the Clerk maintained that each actions taken person been wrong lawful administrative boundaries and aligned with owed process.

“The determination of whether Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan tin resume her legislative duties aft the expiration of her six-month suspension lies solely with the Senate, not with the Office of the Clerk,” the connection read.

The Clerk’s bureau reaffirmed its committedness to upholding law provisions, organization integrity, and the rule of law.