The Senate has reiterated that no court ruling requires the red chamber to recall Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is under suspension, and to ask her to abstain from attending the National Assembly.
The Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs’ chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, made this claim in a statement on Sunday.
Adaramodu’s statement came after Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan promised to return to the National Assembly on Tuesday. In her remarks at a training session for her Kogi State constituency, the Kogi Central senator alluded to her choice.
“I basically have two more months before the six months expire,” she stated. I have, however, written to the Senate once more to inform them that, by God’s special favor, I will be returning on Tuesday, the 22nd.
The court did make the decision on that, so I will be there. Now, they claim that it is an order, but in reality, it is a decision.
The beleaguered lawmaker, who was suspended for six months in March for violating Senate rules, predicated her intention to return on a misreading of Justice Binta Nyako’s decision, Adaramodu insisted.
According to the Senate spokesman, “the honorable court gave a non-binding advice, urging the Senate to consider amending its Standing Orders and reviewing the suspension, which it opined might be excessive,” the statement read. However, the court clearly stated that the Senate’s imposition of the disciplinary punishment based on the senator’s plenary misconduct did not violate any laws or constitutional provisions.
The Senate advised Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to refrain from visiting the National Assembly compound and to give due process time to complete.
Read Also: SERAP Sues President Tinubu for Failing to Release NDDC Forensic Audit Report
According to the statement: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria Senate would like to reiterate for the third time that there is no court order requiring the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan prior to the end of her suspension.
The suspended senator’s circulating assertions that she plans to return to the Senate next Tuesday are based on a misinterpretation of the most recent ruling rendered by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, necessitating this explanation.
As you may remember, the Senate released two public statements through my office after the ruling and the certified true copy of the enrolled order was made available. In both remarks, we made it very evident that the ruling contained neither mandatory or affirmative directive for the Senate to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan before the expiration of her suspension.
Instead, the honorable court issued a non-binding opinion asking the Senate to think about revising its Standing Orders and reexamining the suspension, which it believed might be overly harsh. Nonetheless, the court made it clear that the Senate had not violated any laws or constitutional provisions when it imposed the disciplinary punishment due to the senator’s misbehavior during plenary.
In addition, the court penalized Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for contempt of court, requiring her to apologize in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page, as well as pay a fine of N5 million to the Federal Government. These guidelines are still not being followed.
The fact that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is trying to implement a fictitious recall order while on appeal and having filed an application for stay against the legally binding decisions against her is consequently unexpected and unsustainable. There is no legally binding order directing her to return to the Senate right away, the Senate emphasizes again.
We urge the distinguished senator to abstain from any attempt to enter the Senate on a false pretense next Tuesday, since this would be premature, disrespect the Senate’s honor, and go against due procedure. The Senate is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of its operations and the rule of law as a law-abiding body. It will not put up with the interruption of its operations.
The Senate will review the court’s advisory opinion on her recall and altering the Senate’s standing orders at the proper time and inform Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of it.
In the meantime, she is respectfully requested to avoid the Senate chambers and give due process time to complete its course.
