- Senate says no valid court order exists mandating Natasha’s recall before completion of her six-month suspension.
- Adaramodu says court found Natasha guilty of contempt and imposed N5m fine and public apology order.
The Senate has cautioned Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, not to return to the national assembly prematurely.
The lawmaker had earlier announced plans to resume plenary on Tuesday, claiming she had officially informed the Senate in writing.
However, in a statement on Sunday, the chairman of the Senate committee on media and public affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, said no court order mandated the Senate to reinstate the suspended lawmaker.
Adaramodu said the Senate remained committed to due process and the rule of law in handling disciplinary matters.
He said, “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.”
He added that the court merely issued an advisory opinion, urging the Senate to consider amending its standing orders and reviewing the senator’s suspension.
According to him, the court did not find the Senate in breach of any law or constitutional provision in its disciplinary action.
He noted that the same court had previously found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt and ordered her to pay a N5 million fine to the federal government.
The court also instructed her to publish an apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page, which she allegedly failed to do.
“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,” he added.
Adaramodu said any attempt by the lawmaker to force her way into the chamber would be regarded as disruptive and a violation of legislative order.
He said, “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.”
He advised her to stay away from the National Assembly until the process is concluded.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6 for allegedly violating the Senate’s standing rules following her allegation of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The lawmaker subsequently challenged her suspension in court.
In July, a federal high court in Abuja ruled that the suspension was excessive and ordered her recall.
The Senate, however, said it had not received the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgement.
Akpabio has approached the court of appeal to challenge the ruling.