The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nige
ria, has warned Senator Natasha Akpoti – Uduaghan ( PDP/ Kogi Central) to stay away from the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, as there is yet no subsisting court order mandating her recall before the expiration of the six- month suspension. The warning on the heels of the claims by the suspended Senator that she intends to resume legislative duties at the Senate on Tuesday (tomorrow)based on the recent judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja. Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu who gave the clarification on Sunday, recalled that the Senate had, before now, issued two public statements following the judgment and the subsequent release of the Certified True Copy of the Enrolled Order. In both statements, Adaramodu said, the Senate made it unequivocally clear that the judgment did not contain any positive or mandatory order directing the Senate to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan before end of her suspension.“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. The Court, however, explicitly held that the Senate did not breach any law or constitutional provision in imposing the disciplinary measure based on the Senator’s misconduct during plenary.
“Furthermore, the Court found Senator AkpotiUduaghan guilty of contempt of court and imposed penalties, including a fine of ¦ 5 million payable to the Federal Government, and a mandatory apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page. Till date, these directives remain uncompiled with. “It is therefore surprising and legally untenable that Senator 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. The Senate emphasizes once more: there is no enforceable order directing her immediate return to the chamber,” Adaramodu said. He advised the embattled 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.
According to Adaramodu, the Senate, being a law-abiding institution, remains committed to upholding the rule of law and the integrity of its proceedings and will not tolerate the disruption of its proceedings. At the appropriate time, Adaramodu said, the Senate will consider the advisory opinion of the court on both amending the Standing Orders of the Senate, her recall, and communicate same thereof to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.Until then, Adaramodu warned, AkpotiUduaghan should stay away from the Senate chambers and allow due process to run its full course
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