By Jane Okafor, Abuja
Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has cautioned Senate President Godswill Akpabio against placing himself above the Nigerian Constitution.
Senator Akpoti – Uduaghan who arrived the National Assembly complex on Tuesday morning with her supporters, including female activist, Aisha Yesufu, ostensibly to resume legislative duties was denied entry by dozens of security operatives who were deployed to the place earlier to stop the suspended Senator.
She accused Akpabio of violating a valid court order by preventing her from resuming duties today at the National Assembly.
The embattled senator stormed the National Assembly complex with supporters to reclaim her seat following a ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, which nullified her suspension and held that the Leadership of the 10th Senate and others should recall her.
Livid with anger over the denial of access to the Senate Chamber or her office, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the situation as a deliberate act of contempt by the Senate, especially the Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
She expressed concern that her continued exclusion speaks louder about the state of the nation’s democracy, even as she also faulted the legality of her initial suspension by the Senate three months ago.
“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?” she stated.
“Even the suspension ab initio was fraudulent—the document was faulty,” she said.
Natasha, however, hinted at approaching the appellate court for further interpretation of the lower court order 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 said.
