The Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly has dismissed suggestions that it has the authority to decide whether suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, can resume her legislative duties.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the Director of Information, Mullah Bi-Allah, speaking on behalf of the Clerk, explained that the office functions strictly as an administrative arm of the legislature and cannot review or overturn resolutions of the Senate.

“The Clerk does not possess the authority to review, reverse or interpret Senate decisions,” the statement read.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, a first-term lawmaker elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was suspended by the Senate on March 6, 2025, for six months. Although she challenged the suspension in court, the Federal High Court declined to invalidate the decision, and the matter remains pending at the Court of Appeal.

Earlier this month, the senator had written to the Clerk of the National Assembly notifying the office of her intention to resume legislative duties. However, the Clerk clarified that such correspondence ought to be directed to the Senate President in line with parliamentary protocol.

According to the statement, the Clerk’s office subsequently informed the Senate leadership, which maintained that since the case is still in court, any change in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s status must either come from a new Senate resolution or a binding court order.

The Clerk’s office also expressed concern over a petition by the senator’s legal team accusing it of overreach, stressing that the determination of her resumption lies solely with the Senate.

“It must be emphasised that the question of whether Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan can resume her legislative duties without further resolution of the Senate following the expiration of her suspension lies with the Senate and not with the Clerk to the National Assembly,” Bi-Allah added.

The office reaffirmed its neutrality, stating that it remains guided by constitutional provisions, institutional respect, and the rule of law, and urged the public to allow the Senate and the courts to resolve the matter.

Hospitals across the Federal Capital Territory were thrown into crisis on Monday as doctors under the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD-FCTA) began an indefinite strike, forcing facilities to discharge patients and leaving pregnant women, children, and the elderly stranded.

The doctors’ move comes after a seven-day warning strike expired without progress in negotiations with the FCTA.

Their demands include:

• Payment of salary arrears (1–6 months) owed to members since 2023
• Immediate recruitment of new staff
• Settlement of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund
• Payment of arrears from the 25–35% CONMESS salary review
• Clear timelines for promotion, conversion, and skipping processes
• Payment of hazard allowance arrears and wage awards
• Urgent renovation and proper equipping of FCTA hospitals

Across Wuse, Asokoro, and Maitama District Hospitals, patients recounted frustrating experiences:

• A mother paid ₦8,000 to see a doctor for her child’s recurring stomach pains, but found no doctor on duty.
• A 69-year-old man, due for his annual medical check-up, was turned back twice.
• Pregnant women due for antenatal visits were sent home unattended.
• Patients in several wards, including paediatric and surgical units, were discharged prematurely.
• While consultants, nurses, and a handful of staff tried to manage emergencies, many patients were left without care.

The ARD-FCTA says the strike will last “until the government and management demonstrate genuine commitment to making health in the FCT a priority.”

A Lagos State Special Offences Court has given former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele the greenlight to bring in an independent forensic expert to inspect key digital evidence in his ongoing trial.

On Monday, Justice Rahman Oshodi ruled that Emefiele’s defence team could engage a specialist to examine an iPhone (Exhibit E) and the WhatsApp conversations already admitted in court. The judge said the review would help verify the authenticity of the messages, provided strict safeguards were followed.

Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are facing 19 counts filed by the EFCC, including abuse of office, corruption, and fraudulent property transactions involving $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion.

The EFCC opposed the request, warning that it could compromise the chain of custody of the evidence. Prosecutors argued that the defence had not disclosed which forensic lab or expert would handle the device. They also pushed for the EFCC’s own forensic director to oversee any review.

Justice Oshodi struck a middle ground:

• Each side can bring one lawyer and one forensic expert.
• A court representative must supervise the process.
• The phone remains in court custody at all times.
• The inspection will take place on September 24 and 26, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The trial resumes on October 7 and 8, with further hearings fixed for October 9, 2025.