Natasha Accused of Orchestrating Thugs’ Assault on National Assembly Amid Rift With Akpabio

• The Nigerian senate finally granted Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi Central, access to the national assembly premises
• Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters accompanied her to the national assembly to welcome her back from a six-month senate suspension
• In reaction, the National Integrity Watch criticised Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for bringing a crowd of supporters to the national assembly

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs and governance in Nigeria.

FCT, Abuja – A civil society group, National Integrity Watch, on Tuesday evening, September 23, accused Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, of orchestrating a violent bid to storm the national assembly after her office was unsealed.

Legit.ng reports that the Kogi lawmaker was suspended by the senate for six months following a sexual harassment claim against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and a misunderstanding over seat arrangement in the senate.

Following her suspension, Natasha’s office was sealed.

On Tuesday afternoon, September 23, the national assembly’s deputy director, sergeant-at-arms, Alabi Adedeji, finally unsealed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain has since resumed.

Group berates Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Reacting, National Integrity Watch said the decision of the national assembly authorities to unseal Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office was followed by an alleged deployment of hired thugs to the national assembly complex.

Per a statement sent to Legit.ng, John Samuel, the group’s national convener, said:

“The office was unsealed early this morning, and she brought thugs to invade NASS this afternoon.”

Furthermore, Samuel alleged that Akpoti‑Uduaghan also brought mobile toiletries into the national assembly premises, reportedly circumventing existing security regulations.

In National Integrity Watch’s statement, Samuel claimed that the men, allegedly brought from Borno and Delta states, were sent to smash property and harass national assembly staff.

He warned that the legislature “is bigger than any individual” and condemned what he described as a reckless campaign of “thuggery and street nuisance.”

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National Integrity Watch stressed that holding public office is a privilege, not a license to intimidate or desecrate the national assembly.

Snapshot of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Before joining politics and campaigning for senate during the 2019 Kogi state governorship election under the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

She came to limelight when she presented an investigative report to the national assembly on March 1, 2018, that exposed corruption at the Ajaokuta steel mill.

Akpoti first contested as a federal lawmaker to represent Kogi Central senatorial district in the national assembly under PDP. She lost the election to candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar Sadiku Ohere.

She was declared winner by the court of appeal, Abuja, hearing the 2023 Kogi Central senatorial election dispute.

Read more on Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Godswill Akpabio saga:

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Natasha Akpoti debunks fake news

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan denied receiving N500 million from Akpabio.

Akpoti-Uduaghan denied ever receiving such funds from the senate president.

According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the claim is a complete fabrication designed to mislead the public and damage her reputation.

Source: Legit.ng