Pan-African Parliament member and former ECOWAS parliamentarian, Fatoumatta Njai, has described as disheartening the fact that one out of the four women in the Nigerian Senate is currently facing serious challenges.

Njai voiced her concerns on Wednesday during an interview with Arise Television, following the Senate’s decision to prevent Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from resuming her duties after serving a six-month suspension.

The Senate had earlier maintained that Natasha could not yet return because of a pending court case.

Reacting, Njai insisted that the issue, being sub judice, should not hinder the senator from resuming her legislative responsibilities after completing her suspension.

“I may not be Nigerian, but I am African. I am a Pan-Africanist and, as a former ECOWAS parliamentarian, I understand a bit of how Nigerian politics works.

“I know the struggles and hurdles women parliamentarians face just to be elected, not to mention being denied the chance to serve after winning that mandate,” she said.