Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Senate has clearly stated that there is no court order asking it to bring back Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before her suspension officially ends.
This clarification came after the suspended senator claimed she would return to the Senate chambers next Tuesday, saying her decision was based on a recent court ruling. However, the Senate says this is a misunderstanding of the judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the Senate, Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said it was surprising that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is still in the process of appealing her suspension and has already filed a motion to delay enforcement of the judgment, would act as if she had received an order allowing her return.
“There is no such order asking us to recall her yet,” Adaramodu said. “She is acting on an imaginary directive that does not exist.”
The Senate warned the suspended senator not to force her way back into the chambers on Tuesday, as doing so would be disrespectful, premature, and against due process.
According to the statement, the Senate is a law-abiding institution and will not allow its proceedings to be disrupted. It added that rules, processes, and proper legal steps must be followed by every member, no matter their status.
“We urge Senator Natasha to respect the dignity of the Senate and stay away from the chambers until the legal process is completed,” the statement said.
This development serves as a reminder that even lawmakers must follow the law and allow proper procedures to take place before returning to their duties.
