The Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged violations of the legislative body’s rules. Her suspension follows a heated dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of sexual harassment—a claim Akpabio has strongly denied.

During a plenary session on Thursday, Akpabio read out the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, which found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of violating the Senate Standing Rules (2023, as amended).

“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,” Akpabio declared.

While some lawmakers attempted to reduce the suspension period to three months, the Senate, through a majority vote, upheld the six-month penalty.

However, the lawmakers ruled that the suspension could be reconsidered if Akpoti-Uduaghan tenders a written apology. “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 stated.

In a slight amendment to the initial recommendations, the Senate agreed to continue paying the salaries of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s aides, despite her suspension. “The aides of Natasha are not Natasha,” Senator Orji Kalu argued, calling for a revision of the committee’s sanctions. “It would be wrong for this Senate to deprive these aides of their allowances.”

Following the decision, the Kogi Central lawmaker was escorted out of the chamber by the Sergeant-At-Arms. Before leaving, she defiantly declared, “This injustice will not be sustained.”

Her suspension is the culmination of a weeks-long controversy that began on February 20, 2025, after a seating arrangement dispute with Akpabio. The situation escalated when she accused him of sexual harassment and abuse of office.

Akpoti-Uduaghan formally submitted a petition against Akpabio on the Senate floor on Wednesday. However, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Neda Imasuen (Edo South), dismissed her claims, citing procedural and legal shortcomings. According to the committee, the petition was “dead on arrival” as she had personally signed it instead of obtaining a third-party endorsement, rendering it “invalid.”

Undeterred, she re-submitted her petition hours later. However, on the same day, the Imasuen-led committee recommended her suspension for violating Senate rules, a move that was swiftly ratified by the chamber.

In addition to her six-month suspension, the Senate initially proposed locking her office, barring her from the National Assembly premises, and halting her salary. However, while the suspension remains, her aides’ salaries will continue to be paid.