Akpoti-Uduaghan resumes plenary, takes seat she earlier protested against

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Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Tuesday resumed plenary and took the same seat she had earlier protested against.

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Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan entered the Senate chamber around 12 noon, shortly after the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio took over proceedings from Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who had begun the session around 11:15 a.m.

Upon arrival, she proceeded straight to her designated seat in the minority section, specifically, the right side of the sixth row in a section that has seven rows.

Dressed in white attire with matching head ties and black sunglasses, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was warmly received by several senators including Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), Ogoshi Onawo (PDP, Nasarawa), Gbenga Daniel (APC, Ogun East), and Samaila Dahuwa (PDP, Bauchi North), who exchanged handshakes with her.

As of the time of filing this report, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan had not contributed to the ongoing deliberations in the chamber.

The senator was suspended on 6 March for six months following the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

The committee accused her of defying the chamber’s sitting arrangement and engaging in alleged misconduct during a plenary session on 20 February. Her protest that day over the reassignment of her seat led to a disruption of proceedings.

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Apart from suspending her, the Senate also withdrew her security aides, locked her office, suspended her salary and allowances, and barred her from entering the National Assembly complex

Her office, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing was, however, unsealed on 23 September by Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms. She resumed duties a few hours after the reopening.

Although Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan has served her six-month suspension, the matter remains before the court.