The Senate has warned Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against returning to the Red Chamber until she fulfills the court’s conditions for her potential recall.
Yemi Adaramodu, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, stated this in a statement on Sunday.
Mr Adaramodu said the clarification became necessary following circulating claims by the suspended senator that she intends to resume her seat at the Senate on Tuesday. He said the suspended senator based her resolve to resume on a misinterpretation of a recent judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
Mr Adaramodu said the Senate had, through his office, issued two public statements following the judgment and the subsequent release of the certified true copy of the enrolled order.
He said the Senate, in both statements, made it unequivocally clear that the judgment did not contain any positive or mandatory order directing the upper chamber to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan prior to the end of her suspension.
He said the court rather 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 chairman of the committee stated that 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 sessions.
“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. To date, these directives remain uncomplied with.
“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. Senate emphasises once more, there is no enforceable order directing her immediate return to the chamber,” Mr Adaramodu said.
He added, “We advise 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.”
Mr Adaramodu said the Senate would, at the appropriate time, consider the court’s advisory opinion on both amending its standing orders and her recall, and communicate the same to Ms Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“Until then, she is respectfully advised to stay away from the Senate chamber and allow due process to run its full course,” he said.
