The Nigerian Senate has insisted that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan will not be reinstated until she fully complies with a Federal High Court order directing her to issue a formal apology.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended in March after she engaged in a shouting match with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
She later accused Akpabio of victimising her because she turned down his sexual advances.
She went to court to enforce her fundamental human rights and succeeded in securing a ruling ordering her reinstatement.
The court fined the senator N5 million and asked her to apologise for a satirical post she made on Facebook. The judge ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish an apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days.
Responding to the court verdict, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, emphasized that the court acknowledged the Senate’s power to discipline its members, while noting that such actions must not deprive constituents of parliamentary representation.
Hear Adaramodu, “The court confirmed we have the authority to discipline members. The judgment did not order us to lift the suspension. It only pointed out that she must first carry out the court’s instructions, including a proper apology. After that, the Senate will review her compliance and decide the next steps.”
The Senate’s legal counsel, Paul Dauda (SAN), described the ruling as a partial win, especially in regard to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s social media conduct.
Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja earlier ordered the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.
