Akpoti-Uduaghan Remains Suspended Despite Court Ruling
The ongoing standoff between the Nigerian Senate and suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan took another turn this weekend as legislative leaders doubled down on their position. Contrary to the lawmaker’s public statements, Senate officials insist no judicial mandate exists for her immediate reinstatement.
The controversy stems from a July 19 declaration by the Kogi Central senator, who announced plans to resume her seat this Tuesday based on a recent Federal High Court decision. However, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu delivered a pointed rebuttal the following day, drawing sharp legal distinctions that undermine Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims.
“The judicial ruling in question carries advisory weight, not mandatory force,” Adaramodu clarified in his Sunday statement. “For absolute clarity, let me state unequivocally: the Senate has received no court order compelling Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return before her suspension period concludes.”
Legal experts parsing Justice Binta Nyako’s decision note its nuanced nature. While suggesting the Senate review its disciplinary procedures – particularly regarding what the judgment termed “potentially disproportionate suspensions” – the ruling explicitly affirmed the legislature’s constitutional authority to impose such penalties.
The Senate’s response highlights several critical details Akpoti-Uduaghan’s camp has seemingly overlooked. Not only did the court decline to order her reinstatement, but it simultaneously found her in contempt, levying a ₦5 million fine and requiring public apologies in major newspapers and on social media – obligations that remain outstanding as of this weekend.
“Attempts to misrepresent the court’s advisory as an executable order will be viewed as deliberate provocation,” the Senate’s statement warned, signaling potential consequences for any unauthorized attempt to access the chamber.
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Legislative insiders suggest the upper house will formally consider the court’s recommendations during its next procedural review cycle, though no timeline has been established. Until then, the status quo remains: Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension stands, and Senate security personnel have been instructed to enforce it.
