Natasha says Akpabio is not above Nigeria’s constitution

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central suspended for six months by the Nigerian Senate, warned Senate President Godswill Akpabio against placing himself above the Nigerian Constitution.

She accused the Senate leadership of defying a valid court order permitting her to resume her duties at the National Assembly.

Recently, Judge Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court nullified her suspension, ruling it unconstitutional and in violation of Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution and Senate Standing Orders, which allow only a 14-day suspension. Despite this, when Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the National Assembly to reclaim her seat as ordered by the court, she was blocked entry by security personnel on the Senate’s instruction.

The Senate disputes the binding nature of the court ruling on her recall, arguing the judgment was advisory and not an enforceable mandate to reinstate her.

Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu stated that no subsisting court order compels them to lift her suspension, emphasizing that the court found her guilty of contempt, fined her ₦5 million, and ordered a public apology, which she has yet to comply with.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension arose from allegations of misconduct and non-compliance with the Senate’s seating arrangement during plenary.

The Senate leadership maintains her suspension is justified to uphold the legislature’s integrity, with no senator above Senate rules.

The disagreement has led to significant tension and a looming showdown at the National Assembly, highlighting a clash between judicial authority and legislative immunity.

Fuming after the incident, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the development as a deliberate act of contempt by the Senate, particularly targeting Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

“Akpabio cannot be greater than the Nigerian Constitution. I want Nigerians to know that the Office of the Senate President doesn’t give me legitimacy as a senator. The fact that he has done an appeal does not invalidate the decision of Justice Binta Nyako, and that does not stop me from being a senator.

“I got my legitimacy as a senator from the people of Kogi who voted me into office as senator,” she said.

The embattled senator said her continued exclusion speaks volumes about the state of Nigeria’s democracy.

“That I’ve been denied entrance to the National Assembly is a statement being made. It’s on record that the National Assembly under Akpabio has decided to be in contempt of a court decision, and it’s quite ironic that they are lawmakers.

“That poses the question: how far is our democracy in this day and age?” she stated.

Akpoti-Uduaghan also faulted the legality of her initial suspension by the Senate.

“Even the suspension ab initio was fraudulent—the document was faulty,” she stated.

She revealed that her legal team would be approaching the appellate court for further interpretation and redress.

“Going forward, I will have a meeting with my legal team so they can proceed to the appellate court to seek interpretation into what just happened. I’m a law-abiding citizen,” she added.

As of press time, the Senate leadership had not released any statement on Tuesday’s standoff at the National Assembly.