Fatoumatta Njai, a member of the Gambian parliament, has called on the Nigerian senate to lift the suspension placed on Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi Central.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended in February after a heated clash with Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had written to the clerk of the National Assembly on August 28, 2025, informing him of her plan to resume work on September 4 — the date she said marked the end of her six-month suspension.
However, when she attempted to return, the National Assembly blocked her entry, insisting the matter was still under litigation.
Reacting to the development, Njai, who chairs the gender and children’s welfare committee in the Gambian parliament, wrote a letter to Akpabio dated September 9, 2025. In it, she described the suspension as unconstitutional and excessive.
“Today, it is the distinguished senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, tomorrow it could be me,” Njai warned.
“I believe that after the six months of unlawful suspension, she must be reinstated with immediate effect.”
She reminded the Nigerian senate of a July 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the federal high court, which declared suspending a lawmaker for six months as excessive.
Njai accused the senate of flouting the judgment by stopping Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming on July 22, 2025.
“In total disregard of its own standing orders, the senate has now extended the unlawful suspension beyond six months,” she wrote.
“This is a total affront to the rule of law and disregard for the court ruling. The senate should know that leadership is not about silencing voices, especially those who dare to speak truth with courage and integrity.”
The Gambian lawmaker stressed that Akpoti-Uduaghan represents not just her constituents, but also women and youth who believe in fairness and transparency.
“As the largest country in ECOWAS, Nigeria must set a good example at the regional level,” Njai said.
“I firmly call on the immediate recall of the senator as I believe that justice delayed is justice denied. Senator Natasha must be allowed to resume her duties immediately without any further delay.”
