On Wednesday, the Senator representing Kogi-Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, had a disagreement with Senator representing Imo North, Senator Patrick Ndubueze and the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Audu.

The altercation occurred during a joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives for the Mines and Steel Development budget defence session.

The Kogi-Central Senator questioned the government’s real intention in reviving the Ajaokuta Steel Company, which has been in a comatose state for years, and sought information on the 2019 bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Russia, under which $1.45 billion was reportedly pledged for the steel plant.

What would have been a regular session of lawmakers interrogating their counterparts in the executive arm turned sour when Ndubueze hit the gavel on the table, signalling the end of the session. Akpoti-Uduaghan

Thursday’s incident was not the first time government officials clashed with the Kogi-West Senator.

Here are five times government officials have sparred with Akpoti-Uduaghan:

1. Clash with Senate President over sitting arrangement

Akpoti-Uduaghan had a heated confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a reassignment of her seat in the Senate chamber in February 2025. She resisted the reassignment, arguing it was meant to sideline her, resulting in a loud disagreement on the Senate floor. Following this incident, the Kogi-Central Senator accused the Senate President of sexual assault. She was suspended from office for six months.

2. Clash with Yahaya Bello over alleged assassination attempt

During her suspension from office, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of conspiring to kill her in April 2025.

3. Denied access to the National Assembly by security agents

She was barred by security operatives from entering the National Assembly while she was suspended in July 2025. This led to a stand-off with security officials enforcing orders linked to the legislative leadership.

4. Public confrontation with Ogwu over WhatsApp comments

In November 2025, Senator Natasha publicly called out fellow Senator Osita Ngwu for allegedly deleting her comments from the official senators’ WhatsApp group. She demanded he restore her contributions.

5. Clash with Ndubueze, Audu over Ajaokuta Steel Company revival

Akpoti-Uduaghan got into an altercation with Ndubueze and Audu on Wednesday over the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Company during a joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives for the Mines and Steel Development budget defence session.

Update news