‘It’s premature’ — senate warns Natasha Akpoti against planned return to n’assembly

The senate has cautioned Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central, not to return to plenary until her suspension is formally lifted.

On Saturday, Akpoti-Uduaghan announced that she would resume legislative duties on Tuesday, adding that she had informed the senate in writing.

But in a statement on Sunday, Yemi Adaramodu, chairman of the senate committee on media and public affairs, said “no court order mandates the senate to reinstate the suspended lawmaker”.

Adaramodu said the red chamber is committed to due process and the rule of law.

“The senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 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,” the statement reads.

“The senate had previously issued two public statements after the court ruling and the release of the certified true copy of the enrolled order, making it clear that no positive or mandatory directive was issued against the senate regarding her recall.

“Rather, the honourable court gave a non-binding advisory urging the senate to consider amending its standing orders and reviewing the suspension, which it opined might be excessive.

“The court, however, explicitly held that the senate did not breach any law or constitutional provision in imposing the disciplinary measure based on the senator’s misconduct during plenary.”

He said the same court had found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt and imposed sanctions, including a N5 million fine payable to the federal government and an order to publish an apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page—which she has allegedly not complied with.

“It is therefore surprising and legally untenable that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, while on appeal and having filed a motion for stay against the valid and binding orders made against her, is attempting to act upon an imaginary order of recall that does not exist,” Adaramodu said.

He warned that any attempt by Akpoti-Uduaghan to “storm the senate next Tuesday under a false pretext” would be deemed premature, disruptive, and a violation of legislative order.

“The senate will, at the appropriate time, consider the advisory opinion of the court on both amending the standing orders of the senate and her recall and communicate the same thereof to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“Until then, she is respectfully advised to stay away from the senate chambers and allow due process to run its full course.”

On March 6, the senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for alleged violation of its standing rules.

The action followed her allegation of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a claim she later took to court after her suspension.

In July, the federal high court in Abuja asked the senate to recall the lawmaker, ruling that the length and nature of her suspension were excessive.

However, the senate said it has yet to receive the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgement and would not act on it.

Akpabio has approached the court of appeal to challenge the judgement.