Senate Warns Natasha: Stay Away From NASS

The Nigerian Senate has warned Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghna to stay away from the Red Chamber. The warning to the Kogi state senator comes on the heels of her threat to resume on Tuesday.

Natasha had at the weekend vowed to storm the Senate when her six months suspension has yet to expire. She said her decision was in line with a recent court decision.

Reacting, Senate’s spokesman Yemi  Adaramodu said there was no court ruling to that effect, according to him, the Justice Binta Nyako, Federal High Court, Abuja ruling was only advisory, and not an order to the Senate to allow the suspended senator resume.

Adaramodu:“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to reaffirm, for the third time, that there is no subsisting court order mandating the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before the expiration of her suspension.

“Rather, the Honourable Court gave a non-binding advisory urging the Senate to consider amending its Standing Orders and reviewing the suspension, which it opined might be excessive.

“The Court, however, explicitly held that the Senate did not breach any law or constitutional provision in imposing the disciplinary measure based on the Senator’s misconduct during plenary.”

Speaking to journalists during her visit to her Constituency on Saturday, the senator disclosed that she had written to the Senate to formally announcing her intention to return.

She noted that the court had already made the decision for her recall, whether the Senate like it or not, even though she still has two months to serve as part of the six months suspension slammed on her in March this year.

“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.

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

The senator was suspended in March after she was accused of misconduct by the leadership of the Senate. Two weeks ago, she threatened to go back to the senate , citing Justice Nyako’s ruling.She late change her mind.