Natasha Case In Court, Can’t Be Entertained, Senate Insists

The Senate has maintained that it will not entertain Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case because it is still before the court.

At a one-day capacity-building workshop yesterday in Abuja for members of the Senate Press Corps, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), said the Red Chamber would not revisit the matter in plenary.

“The matter is in court. It is sub judice. The Senate will not entertain it further within the chamber,” Adaramodu stated.

He called on journalists to educate the public on the Senate’s Standing Rules, noting that many misconceptions surrounding disciplinary actions stem from a lack of understanding of legislative procedures.

Adaramodu emphasised Section 6(1) of the Senate Standing Rules, which empowers the Senate President to allocate and re-allocate seats to senators as necessary.

He said the violations of such rules often lead to avoidable conflicts.

“If a senator assigned to seat number 10 decides to sit on seat number 13, the Senate President is not obligated to recognise such,” he said, adding that, “If the senator insists on recognition, conflict becomes inevitable.”

The lawmaker described the National Assembly as a serious institution governed by law, not a “banana republic” where rules can be ignored.

“Our rules must be obeyed and understood by Nigerians. That understanding comes through your reporting,” he told journalists.

“Parliamentary reporters are expected to be as knowledgeable as lawmakers, if not more,” he said.

Also, at the event, minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, reiterated the federal government’s commitment to achieving food sovereignty in Nigeria.

He said the Tinubu’s administration is focused not just on food security but on producing sufficient food locally, by Nigerians and for Nigerians, to reduce reliance on external sources.

“The vision of President Bola Tinubu is for Nigeria to achieve food sovereignty, where we produce what we eat and minimise dependency on imports. When external sources fail, the consequences can be disastrous,” he said.

He lauded the Senate Press Corps for organising the workshop and urged members to make use of the National Assembly Library and Resource Centr to boost their legislative knowledge.

A former presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, described parliamentary reporting as a specialised area of journalism requiring orientation, training and high standards – comparable to covering the Presidency or national security.

“It requires not just freedom of the press, but a deep sense of responsibility toward national interest and legislative integrity,” he said.

For his part, the director-general of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, said the media plays a critical role in strengthening democracy.

He urged reporters covering the legislature to remain committed to accuracy, continuous learning, and constructive reporting.

“Parliamentary journalism is central to democratic development. When reporters are informed, the public is better informed—and democracy is better served,” he said.