Despite a court order reinstating the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Nigerian Senate said she cannot immediately take back her seat.
Justifying its action, Senate said it had applied for and was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Federal High Court which had ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement, following her victory in her case against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Once in its possession, Senate added,it would study the CTC to enable it decide the necessary action to take.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, took these positions in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria today in Abuja.
On March 6 this year, Senate slammed a six-month suspension on Akpoti-Uduaghan amid the sexual harassment allegation she leveled against Akpabio.
The suspension followed a recommendation by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, as presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Neda Imasuen (APC–Edo South).
Akpoti-Uduaghan consequently took the matter to the Federal High Court, Abuja Division Justice Binta Nyako last week ordered the Senate to recall her from suspension.
But, Justice Nyako also slammed a N5million fine on the senator for contempt.
Senator Adaramodu said Senate had applied for the CTC, stressing that until the document was received and studied, the Senate could not take a position on the court verdict.
His words: “The Senate had applied for the CTC since Monday. We expect to get the document, and once we get it, we are going to comply with the content of the court order.
“But first, the Senate will sit and consider the contents of the CTC, and when we look at the contents, then we shall take a position.
“It was for this that we have Standing Orders. And enforcing the orders means that anybody that contravenes it, the aggregated whole chamber of the Senate can reprimand such a person.”
The Senate spokesman took a swipe at persons who,he said, expected the upper legislative chamber to do things offhand.
“Possibly, what they were expecting was that anybody can disobey; anybody can break any rule, and that the Senate must not take any stand.
“Whoever that is not a legislator cannot understand how the legislature works,” he said.
The senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District explained that the 180-day suspension handed down to Akpoti-Uduaghan included non-parliamentary days.
“What the Senate rules say is that you should observe, adhere to, and fulfill the 180 parliamentary days,’’ he said.
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