The Senate on Thursday suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for violation of the Red Chambers rules.
“That the Senate do suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for her total violation of the Senate Standing Rules (2023 as amended for bringing the presiding officer and the entire Nigerian Senate to public opprobrium,” Senate President Godswill Akpabio said on Thursday while reading out the recommendations of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct probing her claims.
On whether it will be lifted, the senate said: “For the Senate to consider lifting this suspension or reducing the tenure of the suspension, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan shall submit a written apology to the Senate before her reconsideration by the Nigerian Senate,” Akpabio said.
“The aides of Natasha are not Natasha,” Senator Orji Kalu said while calling for an amendment to the sanctions. “It would be wrong for this Senate to deprive these aides of their allowances.”
Following her suspension, the lawmaker was escorted out of the chambers by the Sergeant-At-Arms, but before she left she stated that “this injustice would not be sustained”.
Her suspension was as a result of dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio who she accused of sexual harassment.
