The Traffic

Drama at the Gates: Natasha Storms NASS, Vows Return Amid Legal, Political Crossfire

It was a scene heavy with symbolism and tension at the gates of Nigeria’s National Assembly on Tuesday, as suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan—flanked by human rights activist Aisha Yesufu and a crowd of determined supporters—was barred entry in her bold attempt to resume her legislative duties.

Her convoy of black SUVs and a white 15-seater bus had barely pulled up behind the National Arcade at noon when security operatives pounced. Armed personnel from the police, Department of State Services (DSS), Civil Defence, and the Sergeant-at-Arms formed a human barricade. Their message was clear: “Access denied.”

But Natasha didn’t flinch. She stepped out, walked nearly a kilometer to the inner gates, only to be blocked again as heavy locks clanked shut before her. Cameras rolled, chants rose from the crowd, and the suspended lawmaker stood her ground.

"This is not just a gate—they've slammed the door on democracy itself," she told reporters after being refused entry. “I came here as a duly elected senator, armed with a Federal High Court ruling in my favour. The Senate, under Akpabio, has chosen lawlessness.”

The attempted return came on the back of a court judgment by Justice Binta Nyako that found Natasha guilty of contempt and imposed a ₦5 million fine, alongside an order for a public apology. But the court also gave weight to her arguments about wrongful suspension—a decision Natasha claims the Senate has twisted.

“The suspension was fraudulent from day one,” she said. “Even the so-called committee report wasn’t signed properly—just a photocopied attendance sheet passed off as a binding document. That’s not due process. That’s mockery.”

Despite officially notifying the Senate of her planned return, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the gates were not just locked against her—but against the will of the people of Kogi Central who sent her to represent them.

"Akpabio is not the constitution. My mandate came from the ballot, not his office."

The Senator insists that the Senate did not appeal the judgment that supported her reinstatement—only Akpabio cross-appealed. She said she would now approach the Court of Appeal to challenge what she described as a deepening constitutional crisis.

Yet, while Natasha framed the moment as a fight for justice, the Senate dismissed it all as political theatre.

“It’s a season film. Pure content creation,” said Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu in a televised interview. “She remains suspended. No enforceable judgment has reinstated her. The court asked her to apologise and pay a fine, which she hasn’t done. How can she enforce a judgment she herself is appealing?”

He doubled down on the Senate’s legal backing, citing Section 60 of the Constitution which grants the Senate authority over its internal affairs—including disciplinary measures.

"We’re lawmakers, not actors,” Adaramodu quipped. “We won't dignify theatrics with a policy response.”

Supporters of Natasha, however, saw the day differently. Aisha Yesufu condemned what she called “a shameless reversal of values.”

“The same people who scaled the National Assembly gates in 2014 are now locking the gates on an elected representative. This is hypocrisy on steroids,” she said.

Amid all the fire and fury, legal voices joined the fray. Senior Advocate Ken Harries lambasted the senator’s tactics, calling her entrance attempt a “self-contradictory stunt.” According to him, “You can’t reject a court’s decision and then try to enforce it. She hasn’t paid the fine or complied with the apology order.”

He urged her to “clean her hands” before seeking equitable relief.

Still, Natasha isn’t backing down.

“I will return. When the Senate resumes from recess, I’ll be here again. I will pursue this to the very end—not for me, but for democracy and every silenced voice in this country.”

For now, the gates of Nigeria’s legislative power remain shut to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. But with the drama escalating into a constitutional flashpoint, one thing is certain — this political storm is far from over.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna