Senate warns suspended Senator Natasha against premature return
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Senate has issued a stern warning to suspended Kogi lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, urging her to refrain from attempting to resume her legislative duties until her suspension officially ends.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, emphasised that no binding court order compels the Senate to recall the suspended lawmaker at this time.
“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,” Adaramodu stated.
The warning comes in response to reports quoting Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as saying she would return to the Senate on Tuesday, citing a recent judgment by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Adaramodu clarified that following the judgment and the release of the Certified True Copy of the Enrolled Order, the Senate had already addressed the matter publicly, making it clear that the court did not issue a mandatory directive requiring her reinstatement.
“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 explained.
The Senate also pointed out that the same court had found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt, imposing a ₦5 million fine payable to the Federal Government and requiring a public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page — a directive the Senate says she has yet to fulfill.
“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 the suspended lawmaker to “storm the Senate next Tuesday under a false pretext” would be disruptive and violate legislative protocol.
“The Senate will, at the appropriate time, consider the advisory opinion of the court on both amending the Standing Orders of the Senate, 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,” the statement concluded.
