A Gambian lawmaker, Fatoumatta Njai, has urged the Nigerian Senate to lift the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.

 

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in February 2025 following a heated exchange with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She had written to the Clerk of the National Assembly on August 28, notifying of her intention to resume on September 4, which she said marked the end of her six-month suspension. However, she was prevented from resuming, with the National Assembly insisting the matter remained sub judice.

 

In a letter dated September 9, 2025, and addressed to Senate President Akpabio, Njai, who chairs the Gender and Children’s Welfare Committee in the Gambian parliament, condemned the action as unconstitutional and excessive.

 

“Today, it is the distinguished senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, tomorrow it could be me. I believe that after the six months of unlawful suspension, she must be reinstated with immediate effect,” Njai warned.

 

She reminded the Nigerian Senate of the 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 that judgment by blocking Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return on July 22, 2025.

 

According to her, extending the suspension amounted to a “total affront to the rule of law” and a violation of parliamentary standing orders.

 

“The Senate should know that leadership is not about silencing voices, especially those who dare to speak truth with courage and integrity,” she wrote.

 

Njai stressed that Akpoti-Uduaghan represents not only her constituents but also women and youth who look up to her as a voice of fairness and transparency.

 

“As the largest country in ECOWAS, Nigeria must set a good example at the regional level. 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.”