The legal counsel representing the Nigerian Senate has issued a cautionary statement to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, advising her to desist from resuming legislative duties at the National Assembly on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, pending the release of the official enrolled order of a recent court judgment.

In a formal communication dated July 5, 2025, addressed to J.S. Okutekpa, SAN & Co., the law firm representing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, Paul Daudu, SAN & Co. emphasized the need for restraint and clarity following a ruling delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 4 by Justice Binta Nyako.

The caution comes in response to a circulating video in which Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is seen addressing supporters, claiming that the court had ordered the Senate to reinstate her following her suspension. The video, which has garnered significant attention online, suggests that the court nullified her suspension and mandated her immediate return to legislative duties.

However, the Senate’s counsel refutes this interpretation. According to the letter signed by Paul Daudu, SAN, while Justice Nyako’s judgment acknowledged concerns about the impact of the suspension on constituents’ representation, it did not expressly nullify the Senate’s disciplinary action nor issue a binding order directing her recall.

Daudu clarified that the court’s comments on the suspension were merely obiter dicta—judicial remarks made in passing—and do not amount to enforceable orders. He stressed that any premature move to resume duties based on such interpretation could cause institutional confusion and undermine the authority of both the judiciary and the legislature.

The Senate’s legal team further noted that the enrolled order, which is the official and binding document of the court’s decision, has not yet been made available. Until it is released, reviewed, and confirmed by all parties, they argued, no steps should be taken based on assumptions or interpretations of the judgment.

Calling for professionalism and mutual respect, Daudu urged Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal representatives to counsel their client against resuming duties prematurely, warning that such action may be considered contemptuous and could escalate into constitutional conflict.

The letter concluded by reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to due process and the rule of law while underscoring the need to maintain order and decorum within Nigeria’s legislative institutions.