Disappointed at being blocked from resuming duties on Tuesday in line with a court order directing her reinstatement, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan says she will meet with her legal team to initiate steps at the Court of Appeal.
The lawmaker representing Kogi Central described the Senate leadership under Senate President Godswill Akpabio as the “worst in Nigeria’s history.”
Trouble began for the Senator after she levelled accusations of bias and sexual harassment against Akpabio, following which she was charged with insubordination and suspended for six months.
Flanked by supporters and the media, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan made her way into the National Assembly premises in Abuja, after she was initially denied access.
Her convoy was stopped, denying her entry into the premises.
She was inside a black car.
The car ahead of her, carrying Activist Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, was also stopped from entering the National Assembly.
But later on, she came out of her car and proceeded into the National Assembly on foot, accompanied by some supporters.
Addressing journalists, Senator Natasha accused Senate President Akpabio of abusing his power by instituting an appeal against her following the decision of the Federal High Court.
Speaking on her next line of action, she said, “Going forward, I will have a meeting with my legal team so they proceed to the appellate court to seek interpretation into what just happened. I’m a law-abiding citizen.”
The Senator, who was suspended for six months by the Senate earlier this year, had vowed to resume legislative duties after a ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court quashed her suspension. But upon arrival at the National Assembly complex, she was barred by security personnel.
She described her blockage as a contempt of court by the Senate under President Godswill Akpabio.
Natasha said: “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.
“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?”
Akpoti-Uduaghan also questioned the basis of her initial suspension.
She said: “Even the suspension, ab initio, was fraudulent—the document was faulty.”
