Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has disclosed that she deliberately postponed her resumption to the Senate following legal advice and in deference to procedural protocols, despite a court ruling that nullified her suspension.
The senator, who made the revelation during an interview with African Independent Television (AIT), said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court judgment before taking any further steps toward returning to legislative duties.
“I believe in the judiciary, I’m not giving up,” she said, reaffirming her faith in the legal process.
Although her suspension was declared “excessive and unconstitutional” by the court, a legal opinion reportedly issued by Senate counsel, Paul Daudu, SAN, dated July 5, contended that the ruling did not include an enforceable order compelling the Senate to recall her, raising questions about her immediate return.
Responding to concerns about her activities during her suspension, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan defended her absence from the chambers, stating that she remained actively engaged with her constituents and legislative agenda.
“I remained active throughout. These are personal initiatives, I was hoping to finish the gold bill and move on to others like lithium and red mineral legislation. I can’t simply hand them over to others,” she said.
She noted that despite being barred from Senate proceedings, she continued to deliver democratic dividends to her constituents, listing achievements such as the installation of solar-powered streetlights, groundbreaking ceremonies for smart markets across local governments, and the distribution of hundreds of laptops to students at Meseta Memorial College.
“My exclusion from the chambers isn’t just about me, it’s about the silencing of Kogi Central,” the senator added. “By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight.”
LEADERSHIP reports that the senator’s initial announcement of a planned return on Tuesday had sparked tension within the National Assembly Complex, with an unusually heavy presence of security personnel and operational vehicles.
Movement in and out of the complex was closely monitored, with vehicles subjected to thorough searches on Tuesday.
Despite the delay in her official resumption, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan vowed to press forward with her legislative mandate and her commitment to national development.
“I remain committed to the development of not only Kogi Central but Nigeria as a whole,” she said. “I will continue to deliver on my mandate, whether inside or outside the Senate.”
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