Senate Warns Senator Natasha To Stay Away

The Senate has warned suspended Kogi lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to stay away from the Senate until the expiration of her six-month suspension.

The Kogi central senator has vowed to resume her duties on Tuesday, following a federal high court ruling directing the Senate leadership to recall her.

The Senate issued the warning on Sunday through a statement by its committee chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu.

While insisting that no valid court order mandates her immediate recall, Adaramodu said the Senate remained committed to due process and the rule of law.

“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 dismissed reports that the court directed her immediate recall, stating that there was no positive or mandatory directive regarding her recall.

“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 said.

The statement further noted that the same court found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt and imposed penalties, including a ₦5 million fine payable to the Federal Government.

It also noted an order of the court directing Akpoti-Uduaghan to tender apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page.

However, it was not clear if the court’s directive had been complied with as of the time of filing this report.

“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,” the Senate spokesman added.

He warned that any move by the suspended lawmaker to “storm the Senate next Tuesday under a false pretext” would be premature, disruptive, and a breach of legislative order.

“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 added.

Senate Warns Senator Natasha To Stay Away is first published on The Whistler Newspaper