The Senate has reaffirmed that no valid or enforceable court order exists mandating the immediate recall of the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. This assertion was made amid growing controversy over the embattled senator’s insistence on resuming legislative duties at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, restated the upper chamber’s position in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, dismissing claims that a recent court judgment directed her return before the end of her suspension.
“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 said.
Adaramodu explained that the clarification became necessary following media reports quoting the suspended lawmaker as saying she would return to the Senate on Tuesday, allegedly based on the judgment of Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He said the suspended senator hinged her resolve to resume based on the misinterpretation of the recent judgment. According to Adaramodu, the Senate had already issued two public statements after the court’s ruling and the release of the Certified True Copy of the enrolled order, clarifying that no positive or mandatory directive had been issued against the Senate 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,” he said.
The Senate further stressed that Justice Nyako explicitly held that the Senate did not breach any law or constitutional provision in imposing the disciplinary measure against Akpoti-Uduaghan for her conduct during plenary.
“Furthermore, the court found Sen Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court and imposed penalties, including a fine of N5 million payable to the Federal Government, and a mandatory apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page. Till date, these directives remain uncomplied with,” Adaramodu said.
He continued: “It is therefore surprising and legally untenable that Sen. 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.”
Warning against any disruption of proceedings, he stated: “We advice the distinguished senator to refrain from any attempt to storm the Senate next Tuesday under a false pretext, as doing so would not only be premature but also undermine the dignity of the Senate and violate due process.”
“The Senate, as a law-abiding institution, is committed to upholding the rule of law and the integrity of its proceedings. It will not tolerate the disruption of its proceedings,” he said.
Adaramodu concluded that the Senate would, “at the appropriate time, consider the advisory opinion of the court on both amending its standing orders, her recall, and communicate same to Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan.”
“Until then, she is respectfully advised to stay away from the Senate chambers and allow due process to run its full course,” he added.
The court ruling, delivered earlier this month, stopped short of compelling the Senate to end Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension but urged internal review mechanisms. The senator was suspended in June following a heated altercation during plenary, which the Senate leadership described as gross misconduct.
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