By James Adamu
With barely 48 hours to her intended resumption date on Tuesday, the Senate has asked suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to steer clear of the premises of the National Assembly till the expiration of her suspension period as there is no binding order or court on the Red Chamber to allow her in.
The Senate, while admitting on Sunday that a July 4 Judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court decided the case she instituted to challenge her suspension, the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment did not contain any declarative order compelling her recall.
The Senate’s formal reaction came on Sunday as it confirmed to have received a notification by lawyers to Akpoti-Uduaghan, that the Kogi-Central Senatorial District lawmaker would resume work on Tuesday, July 15.
It advised the senator to stay away until the expiration of her suspension while the Legislature studied the CTC and seek proper constitutional opinions on when to recall her if need be.
Senate Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, gave the Legislature’s official stance in a statement on Sunday evening.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been drawn to a letter dated 11th July 2025 authored by the law firm of Numa S.A.N. & Co. on behalf of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, addressed to the leadership of the National Assembly.
“The said letter hinges its request on Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and purports that the judgment of Hon. Justice Binta Nyako delivered on 4th July 2025 constitutes a binding order directing the immediate recall of the suspended Senator to the Senate chamber on Tuesday, 15th July 2025.
“The Senate wishes to state categorically and for the avoidance of doubt that the Certified True Copy of the Enrolled Order did not contain any express or mandatory order directing the recall or reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before the expiration of her suspension.
“The learned judge, Hon. Justice Binta Nyako, merely made advisory observations on the length of the suspension, which are not enforceable or binding in law. The enrolled order clearly demonstrates that the Senate’s disciplinary powers under Section 60 of the Constitution remain intact and were not invalidated.
“Nowhere in the judgment did the Court issue a declaratory or injunctive order mandating her recall.
“However, the Senate will consider and deliberate on this judgment and consequently take a constitutionally informed position on the matter and convey the outcome to the affected Senator and the public.
“The Senate remains committed to the principles of constitutional democracy, judicial independence, and the rule of law. Subsequently, it will not allow its processes or integrity to be undermined by premature interpretations of ongoing legal proceedings or by misapplications of constitutional provisions.
“In conclusion, there is no legal basis upon which Senator Natasha can resume legislative duties at this time.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyers, in their letter to Senate, had argued that the court ordered her recall
They wrote, “After a thorough consideration of the facts and applicable law, the Honourable Court made several findings and orders, including, notably, a definitive pronouncement in Order 10 that the six-month suspension imposed on the Plaintiff was excessive, overreaching, and inconsistent with her ability to comply with the provisions of Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution.”
They asked the Senate to comply immediately with the court’s decision by allowing their client to resume work
The lawyers added, “We respectfully demand that you give immediate effect to the clear and binding Order of the Federal High Court by taking all necessary steps to facilitate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resumption of her legislative duties forthwith, in full compliance with the Court’s judgment.”
The Senate had suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan on March 6 for six months for “misconduct” of breaching Senate orders on seat allocation, particularly Order 6.
Discussion about this post