…Warns suspended lawmaker against defying authority
The battle between suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the Nigerian Senate took a dramatic turn on Sunday as the upper legislative chamber issued a stern warning to the embattled lawmaker over her planned return to the National Assembly on Tuesday, July 22.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had declared her intention to resume plenary following a recent ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Speaking during a training programme in her constituency on Saturday, she said: “I have pretty much two months more before the six months expire. However, I have written to the Senate again telling them that I’m resuming on the 22nd, which is on Tuesday, by the special grace of God. I will be there, because the court did make the decision on that.”
Natasha lamented that her suspension had severely restricted her ability to perform her legislative duties, which she described as a deliberate attempt to silence her voice in the Red Chamber.
But in a fiery response on Sunday, the Senate maintained there was “no subsisting court order” mandating her recall before the end of her suspension.
In a statement signed by Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, the upper chamber debunked Natasha’s claim, insisting that her planned resumption would amount to “an affront to the authority of the Senate” and a clear breach of legislative norms.
“The Senate wishes to reaffirm, for the third time, that there is no subsisting court order mandating the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before the expiration of her suspension,” Adaramodu said.
He clarified that the Abuja Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, did not issue any directive compelling the Senate to reinstate her but merely offered an advisory opinion suggesting the legislative body could review its Standing Orders and suspension policy.
“Rather than issuing any mandatory order for her recall, the Honourable Court gave an advisory. It also found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court and imposed a ₦5 million fine, along with a directive to issue a public apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page. These directives remain unfulfilled.”
The Senate warned that any unauthorised attempt by Natasha to force her way into the chamber would be considered a direct challenge to the authority of the National Assembly and could attract further disciplinary actions.
“Any attempt to resume under the pretext of a misinterpreted judgment will not be tolerated. The Senate emphasises once more: there is no enforceable order directing her immediate return to the chamber,” the statement read.
Adaramodu also cautioned the lawmaker to allow the legal and legislative processes to run their full course: “Stay away from the Senate chambers and allow due process to run its full course. We will review the court’s advisory at a later time and make a decision in accordance with legislative norms.”
