Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has announced her intention to challenge the National Assembly’s refusal to comply with a court order reinstating her to office.
On Tuesday, security personnel at the National Assembly complex barred the senator from entering, despite a valid ruling from the Federal High Court, delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, which nullified her earlier six-month suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended earlier this year, but the court later ruled the action invalid, granting her the right to resume her legislative duties.
Her attempt to return to work was blocked, prompting her to describe the incident as a “clear act of contempt of court” by the Senate, currently led by President Godswill Akpabio.
“The Senate President is not above the Constitution,” Akpoti-Uduaghan told reporters after the incident.
“My legitimacy as a senator comes from the people of Kogi who elected me, not from the Office of the Senate President. An appeal does not override a subsisting court judgment.”
She added, “Being denied access to the National Assembly is a deliberate statement. It’s on record that the Senate under Akpabio has chosen to disregard a court ruling. This raises serious questions about the state of democracy in Nigeria.”
The senator also criticized the initial suspension, calling it “fraudulent” and based on a “faulty document.”
Looking ahead, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she would be consulting with her legal team to initiate further legal action.
“We’ll approach the appellate court for clarity on this matter. I am a law-abiding citizen and will pursue this through lawful means.”
As of the time of this report, the Senate leadership had yet to comment on either the court’s decision or the events at the National Assembly.
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