…Senator blocked from entering complex as legal ambiguity clouds court ruling

…Officials cite security risks, accuse Natasha of political grandstanding

Tensions flared at the National Assembly on Tuesday when suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to force her way into the complex, sparking a confrontation with security officials and raising concerns about the politicization of judicial interpretations.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended in March over alleged gross misconduct, arrived unannounced at the Assembly gates shortly after noon, accompanied by a group of chanting supporters and activist Aisha Yesufu.

Despite multiple security advisories and a pending legal appeal, the senator claimed her right to return was guaranteed by a Federal High Court ruling she interpreted as nullifying her suspension.

But Senate sources argue that the court’s ruling was not a direct order for reinstatement, and that no formal communication from the judiciary has been served to the chamber mandating her return.

“This is not how lawmakers resume duties. What we saw today was a politically choreographed scene aimed at undermining the institution of the Senate,” said a senior official familiar with the events.

Security officers from the Police, DSS, and Sergeant-at-Arms were forced to reinforce access points after what they described as an unprovoked attempt to breach the National Assembly perimeter.

Footage from the second gate shows Akpoti-Uduaghan attempting to push through a human barricade, insisting she be allowed in. Officers, under clear instructions, stood their ground, citing ongoing legal processes and Senate rules.

“There’s a process for everything. You don’t defy the same institution you claim to be part of just because you disagree with its decision,” said another official.

While Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan referenced a ruling by Justice Binta Nyako declaring her six-month suspension unconstitutional, the Senate maintains that no enforceable order exists to compel her return—especially given that Senate President Godswill Akpabio has already filed an appeal in court.

“The case is subjudice. Until a higher court affirms or overturns that ruling with enforceable clarity, the status quo remains,” a Senate legal adviser noted.

Contrary to claims of a blanket directive, Senate insiders clarified that the Clerk of the Senate and the relevant committees have not been served with any court-enforceable mandate demanding her recall.

They also pointed to what they termed the “weaponization of public sympathy” to pressure the Senate into an action it is not legally bound to take.

“We cannot allow the mob to set legislative precedence. That is a slippery slope that weakens our democracy,” said a ranking senator.

The presence of vocal protesters and live streamed confrontations with security officers raised alarms over potential breaches of peace and unauthorized access to a federal facility.

“She has every right to challenge her suspension in court—but not to mobilize a crowd and attempt to storm a protected institution,” said one security operative who was at the scene.

Officials say security was heightened in response to intelligence reports suggesting a possible disruption. The situation was deescalated without violence, though it caused gridlock and unease in the complex.

The Senate insists that the rule of law remains paramount, but that judicial decisions must be clearly communicated, unambiguous, and procedurally followed.

“We are not above the law. But neither are we bound by press statements or political interpretations of court rulings,” said an aide to the Senate President.

As for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s vow not to apologize, the Senate dismissed it as “irrelevant to the legal matter at hand,” insisting that discipline within the chamber is guided by its rules and upheld by internal mechanisms.