The battle over the reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan took a new dimension on Thursday as her legal team and the Nigeria Labour Congress separately warned the Senate of looming lawsuits and mass protests if the lawmaker is not allowed to resume plenary following the expiration of her suspension.

In a strongly worded letter dated September 11 and addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Michael Numa, accused the Senate leadership of deliberately attempting to subvert the will of the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The lawyer insisted that the senator’s six-month suspension, which began on March 6, 2025, had lapsed, leaving no legal basis for her continued exclusion from legislative duties.

Numa, writing on behalf of his law firm, M.J. Numa & Partners, argued that the management’s claim that the senator’s reinstatement was “sub judice” amounted to a misapplication of the doctrine.

“The Senate’s reliance on the sub judice rule is at best a self-imposed restraint on parliamentary debate concerning matters pending before the courts. It has never been, and cannot be, a lawful basis to deny compliance with judicial orders or to frustrate constitutional rights after a fixed-term suspension has expired,” he wrote.

The SAN reminded the Clerk that several court rulings — including decisions by Justices Inyang Ekwo, Egwuatu, and Binta Nyako — had already faulted and nullified the suspension as unlawful. He warned that any further delay would be treated as a breach of the Constitution and contempt of court.

“Take notice that failure to comply by Monday, 15th September 2025, will leave us with no alternative but to initiate proceedings against you personally and in your official capacity. Such proceedings will include committal for contempt, disciplinary action for breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and liability for instigating breach of the peace with potential implications for national security,” the letter read.