Suspension: Natasha Storms N’Assembly in Failed Bid to Resume Work

. Female lawmaker blasts Akpabio, vows never to apologise

. Aisha Yesufu, others back protest

By James Adamu

The move by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume work on Tuesday was successfully foiled by the Senate in the ongoing disagreement between the two sides over her suspension for misconduct.

The Senate had last March placed the Kogi-Central Senator on a six-month suspension for breaching its Standing Orders on seat allocation.

She had challenged her suspension before an Abuja Federal High Court in a case decided by Justice Binta Nyako on July 4.

Although the court had described the six-month length of the suspension as “excessive” and advised the Senate to use its powers to recall her, the court also sanctioned Akpoti-Uduaghan for contempt with a fine of N5million.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was also directed to publish an apology to the court in two national dailies and on her Facebook page.

However, none of the conditions have been met by Akpoti-Uduaghan, while the Senate’s leadership appealed the judgment.

Both the Senate and Akpoti-Uduaghan have also given different interpretations to the judgment with each side claiming the court decided the matter in its favour.

On the strength of her claim that the court gave a declarative judgement ordering the Senate to recall her, the female senator stormed the National Assembly environs on Tuesday with some activists in tow, demanding to be allowed to resume her legislative duties to her constituents.

Forty-eight hours earlier, the Senate, through its Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, sternly warned Akpoti-Uduaghan to steer clear of the legislative building, saying it had no binding orders to recall the suspended lawmaker.

“The Senate 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”, the Senate stated.

But, desirous of enforcing the judgment she brandished, Akpoti-Uduaghan came to the National Assembly vicinity on Tuesday, seeking to force her way in.

However, she met a brick wall at the second/main gate after she successfully pulled through the first gate, better known as MOPOL Gate.

The lawmaker first arrived at the first gate and was disallowed from driving through the gate. Following a mild protest, she elected to accept the option of trekking to the second gate.

At the second gate, she was effectively blocked by security operatives, who locked the gates.

The operatives had arrived at the location as early as 5am to cordon off the entrance and carry out checks on visitors and members of staff.

Besides the presence of policemen at strategic points leading into the complex, several security vans were also sighted patrolling the place as Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived about 12noon.

Some supporters carrying placards and praising her, were seen singing and dancing.

But, when she got to the second gate, her movement was halted by the operatives, who ordered her back.

For hours, she resisted and continued to insist on enforcing her “right” to come into the premises.

Speaking at the gate, popular activist, Alisha Yesufu, said the National Assembly belonged to all Nigerians.

“This is a place for all Nigerians. Everyone can enter the National Assembly. Why are they locking the gates?

“We are going to keep waiting here”, she stated.

The suspended Senator, while addressing reporters, said she came to enforce her rights through the judgment of the court.

She also vowed never to apologise to anyone, adding that she would rather wait for the suspension to run through than apologise for her actions.

Akpoti-Uduaghan further stated that her mission on Tuesday was to try and enforce her right before the Senate would proceed on its annual recess, explaining that whatever was the case, her suspension would be over in about another two months.

“There is just no reason why these gates should not be open. But by and large, considering the fact that the Senate is vacating tomorrow, whenever they deem it fit to resume, we would resume as well.

“So what matters most is all the pressures and all the calls of me apologise for no wrong that I did. I have refused to do that”, she said.

The lawmaker heavily criticised the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, claiming her matter was all about personal vendetta, flowing from her sexual harassment allegation against him.

She also accused Akpabio of keeping her out of the Senate and not the entire senators, adding that it was also Akpabio as an individual who appealed the judgment and not the Senate.

Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke further, “It is clear that it is not the National Assembly, neither it is the Senate that appealed the judgment. It’s Akpabu himself.

“Read it. The President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Akpabio, he is the only appellant. The National Assembly has not appealed that judgment. The Senate has not appealed the judgment. The Committee on Ethics has not, that suspended me wrongly, has not appealed the judgment.

“As a matter of fact, Senator Akpabio joined the clerk of the National Assembly, the entire Senate, and the Chairman Committee on Ethics as joint respondents to the case.

“That means Akpabio has taken the National Assembly and the Senate and the clerk and the committee to court as well. Do you understand? That must be clarified. So there is no reason whatsoever, contrary to the publications I read yesterday, that I should not resume.”

On its part, the Senate made no further comments on the matter on Tuesday.