Not yet uhuru for Natasha as Senate gives conditions for her recall

Kindly Share:

The Nigerian Senate had said it is not in a hurry to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly.

The Senate had slammed a six-month suspension on Natasha over alleged gross misconduct, following her altercation with, Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President over sitting arrangement.

This resulted in a court case wherein she contested the punitive measure meted to her.

Ruling on the matter on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered the Senate to reinstate the senator, describing it’s action as excessive.

Acknowledging the Senate’s power to discipline erring members, the judge noted that since the Senate was constitutionally required to sit for only 181 days in a legislative year, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s 180-day suspension translates to denying Kogi Central Senatorial District of effective participation in national governance.

“The court is not saying that the Senate lacks the power to sanction a member. However, such sanctions must not negate the constitutional right of constituents to be represented in parliament,” Nyako ruled.

Natasha was also found guilty of contempt over a satirical apology to Akpabio, which she posted on her Facebook page on April 27, contravening an earlier gag order imposed on the warring duo.

Consequently, the judge ordered Natasha to publish an apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page within seven days and also pay a fine of N5mto the court.

However, the Senate has predicated the lawmaker’s reinstatement on certain conditions.

Yemi Adaramodu, the Senate Spokesperson, said Natasha would not be immediately reinstated by the upper house of the National Assembly, adding that the court recognised the Senate’s power to sanction defaulting members.

Adaramodu stated that the court judgment did not override the Senate’s constitutional powers to discipline its members.

“The court has not ousted the Senate’s statutory right to punish any erring Senator,” Punch quoted Adaramodu as saying.

“It was established that the senator in question erred. The court has already told her to go and do some things, like restitution, so after the restitution, the Senate will now sit again and consider the content of that restitution, and that will inform our next line of action.

“The onus is no more on us now; it is already on her doorstep to go and apologise. Once she does that, then the Senate will sit and determine how to deal with her matter.

“The first reaction now will not be from us, the court has ruled, so once she takes the step to redress and does what the court has directed her to do, then the Senate will sit and look at the content of her reaction as prescribed by the court.”