Once more, the Senate has insisted that there was no court order requiring the red chamber to recall Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended and asked to abstain from the National Assembly.
This was said in a statement released on Sunday by Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs.
After Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan promised to reconvene at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Adaramodu made his announcement. While speaking to attendees at a training session for her Kogi State constituents, the Kogi Central politician made a suggestion about her choice.
“I have about two months left before the six months are up,” she stated. But with God’s special mercy, I have written to the Senate once more to inform them that I will be returning on Tuesday, the 22nd.
Since the court made the decision on that, I will be present. They now claim that it is an order, even though it is actually a decision.
Adaramodu maintained that the troubled lawmaker, who was suspended for six months in March of last year for violating Senate regulations, had misunderstood Justice Binta Nyako’s decision as the reason for her intention to return.
“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 Senate spokesman said in his statement. However, the court explicitly ruled that the Senate’s imposition of the disciplinary sanction based on the senator’s misconduct during plenary did not violate any laws or constitutional provisions.
Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan was advised by the Senate to refrain from visiting the National Assembly compound and to give due process time to complete.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria Senate wants to reiterate for the third time that there is no court order requiring the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before her suspension ends, according to the statement.
This clarification becomes important in light of the suspended senator’s spreading statements that she plans to return to the Senate on Tuesday. These claims are based on a misinterpretation of the Federal High Court of Abuja’s recent ruling by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako.
You may remember that after the ruling and the subsequent publication of the certified true copy of the enrolled order, the Senate, through my office, released two public remarks. We were very clear in both remarks that the ruling contained no mandatory or affirmative directive requiring the Senate to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan before the conclusion of her suspension.
Rather, the honorable court issued a non-binding opinion asking the Senate to examine the suspension and think about changing its Standing Orders, which it believed might be too harsh. However, the court made it clear that the Senate’s imposition of the disciplinary sanction based on the senator’s misconduct during plenary did not violate any laws or constitutional provisions.
Additionally, the court found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court and issued penalties, which included an obligatory apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page, as well as a fine of N5 million due to the Federal Government. These instructions have not yet been followed.
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Therefore, it is unexpected and illegal for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to be trying to implement a fictitious recall order while she is on appeal and has filed an application for a stay against the legally binding orders against her. The Senate reiterates that there isn’t a legally binding order requiring her to return to the chamber right away.
“We advise the distinguished senator to abstain from any attempt to enter the Senate on a false pretense next Tuesday, as this would be premature, violate due process, and undermine the Senate’s dignity.” As a law-abiding body, the Senate is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of its operations and the rule of law. It will not put up with its operations being interrupted.
“When the time is right, the Senate will review the court’s advisory opinion regarding her recall and amending the Senate’s Standing Orders and inform Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of it.”
“She is respectfully advised to refrain from entering the Senate chambers until that time and to give due process time to complete its course.”
