Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has disclosed that her return to plenary may be subject to an apology demanded by the Senate leadership.
The lawmaker representing Kogi Central made the revelation on Tuesday after resuming at her office in the National Assembly, which had been sealed since March following her suspension.
Her office, Room 205 in the Senate Wing, was reopened earlier in the day by Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, on the directive of the Senate leadership.
In a video circulated to journalists, Adedeji stated: “I, Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director, Sergeant-at-Arms, National Assembly, having been directed to unseal the office of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, hereby unseal the office.”
When approached for clarification, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu said: “If something was sealed before and now unsealed, it means it has been unsealed.”
It is understood that the reopening of the senator’s office follows pressure from within and outside the chamber after her six-month suspension over alleged misconduct. While some senators favour her immediate reinstatement, others insist she must tender an apology, with a third group pushing for the suspension to remain until a pending Court of Appeal ruling is delivered.
Addressing journalists, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed concern over the condition reportedly being considered.
“I have not been communicated. The last communication I had from the clerk was that I won’t be allowed access to resume because the matter was still pending at the Appeal,” she said.
“So I’m still awaiting the letter because it’s good to understand the conditions that they might set illegally concerning the reopening of this my office because as I said earlier I read on the papers, I think it’s Vanguard to be specific, that the leadership meeting was held yesterday and that the Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro upon resumption on the 7th of October would move a motion for me to apologise.
“So I’m actually worried as to what apology they need from me. You can’t apologise for injustice.”