NASS resumption: Natasha faces police blockade today

Natasha

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan appears poised to resume plenary today, despite warnings from the Senate that her suspension remains in force and binding.

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central, who was suspended in March, revealed over the weekend that she had formally notified the Senate of her intention to return, citing a recent court decision as her basis.

“I have pretty much two months more before the six months expire. However, I have written to the Senate again telling them that I’m resuming on the 22nd, which is on Tuesday, by the special grace of God,” she told journalists during a constituency training programme.

“I will be there, because the court did decide on that. Now, they argue that it’s an order, it’s not an order, but it is a decision.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that while her suspension did not stop her from executing constituency projects, it had obstructed her ability to carry out vital legislative functions like sponsoring bills and moving motions.

Backing her stance, her lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, West Idahosa, maintained that the court judgment justified her return.

“Let me be honest with you. Attendance is a legislative action. As far as we are concerned, we are focused on the appeal and other issues before the court. I think the decision to go back to the Senate will be determined by the constituents,” he said in a phone interview.

“The suspension was overreaching the provisions of the constitution. I mean, that was clearly stated there. When you say that the plaintiff should go back, you mean that she should go back to work. I think that is more or less an order, notwithstanding the fact that we didn’t really like the conviction concerning the judgment, which we have come to accept.

“Now that she said she wants to go and resume, let us see what the reaction of the Senate will be. But the most important thing is that she is still a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the judgment has come to an end. Remember also that the judgment said you can’t suspend someone for 180 days.”