The Nigerian Senate has once again cautioned suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to stay away from the National Assembly, maintaining that no enforceable court order currently mandates her reinstatement.
This renewed warning follows Akpoti-Uduaghan’s declaration on Saturday, July 19, that she would resume legislative duties on Tuesday, July 22, citing a recent judgment by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
“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.
However, in a rebuttal issued on Sunday, July 20, Senate Committee Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, refuted her interpretation, stating that the ruling was merely an “advisory opinion” and not a binding directive compelling the Senate to reinstate her.
Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, clarified that Justice Binta Nyako’s ruling merely urged the Senate to consider amending its Standing Orders and potentially reassessing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, which the court noted “may be excessive.”
He further stressed that the court affirmed the Senate’s action did not breach any constitutional or legal provisions.
“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,” he added.
He cautioned that any effort by the suspended senator to forcibly gain access to the chamber based on a “misinterpretation” of the court’s judgment would be considered a violation of legislative protocol and a challenge to the authority of the National Assembly.
“The Senate emphasises once more: there is no enforceable order directing her immediate return to the chamber. The Senate will consider the court’s advisory at the appropriate time and communicate its decision accordingly
She must allow due process to run its full course,” Adaramodu said.
