A legal practitioner, Ekemini Udim, has faulted the attempt by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume legislative duties at the National Assembly, insisting that the court ruling she relies on does not amount to an order for her reinstatement.

Udim made this known on Wednesday while speaking on The Morning Brief, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, monitored by Mega Icon Magazine.

The lawyer explained that contrary to popular interpretation, the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja did not direct the Senate to recall the embattled senator but merely made recommendations on how the upper chamber could amend its rules.

“It is very clear: my Lord has not said, ‘Recall Senator Natasha’. What the judge said was that, ‘You cannot do like this, you cannot do like that,’ and then makes a recommendation to the Senate and says, ‘Senate, think of how you can amend your rules’,” Udim stated.

“You cannot equate that to say, ‘Recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.’ And therefore, anybody who is interpreting the judgment to the extent that the judge ordered the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is not doing justice to that judgment.”

He added that the legal interpretation of the court decision must take precedence over emotional sentiments, warning that a misreading of the ruling would not serve the senator’s interest.

“A lot of people are taking this matter from the emotional angle, and it becomes a problem when you do that. And this is not good for Senator Natasha. This must be taken from the angle of law,” he said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended by the Senate in March for alleged breach of legislative rules following her claims of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

She subsequently approached the court to challenge her six-month suspension, praying the court to declare it illegal.

Earlier this month, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on the matter, a judgment widely interpreted to favour her resumption. However, the Senate has insisted that the court only made a recommendation, not a binding order for reinstatement.

Despite the legal ambiguity, the lawmaker appeared at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday in a bid to resume legislative activities, but was turned back by security operatives.

Defending the Senate’s decision, the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, maintained that Akpoti-Uduaghan remains suspended.

Speaking on Politics Today, another Channels Television programme on Tuesday, Adaramodu stated, “There was no clear-cut order from the court directing the Senate to reinstate her. Until the legal process is exhausted and clarification is made, she cannot resume.”

The Senate President is reportedly appealing the court’s ruling, while the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and her attempted resumption continues to stir legal and political debate.

Lawyer faults Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Senate resumption attempt

A legal practitioner, Ekemini Udim, has faulted the attempt by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume legislative duties at the National Assembly, insisting that the court ruling she relies on does not amount to an order for her reinstatement.

Udim made this known on Wednesday while speaking on The Morning Brief, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, monitored by Mega Icon Magazine.

The lawyer explained that contrary to popular interpretation, the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja did not direct the Senate to recall the embattled senator but merely made recommendations on how the upper chamber could amend its rules.

“It is very clear: my Lord has not said, ‘Recall Senator Natasha’. What the judge said was that, ‘You cannot do like this, you cannot do like that,’ and then makes a recommendation to the Senate and says, ‘Senate, think of how you can amend your rules’,” Udim stated.

“You cannot equate that to say, ‘Recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.’ And therefore, anybody who is interpreting the judgment to the extent that the judge ordered the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is not doing justice to that judgment.”

He added that the legal interpretation of the court decision must take precedence over emotional sentiments, warning that a misreading of the ruling would not serve the senator’s interest.

“A lot of people are taking this matter from the emotional angle, and it becomes a problem when you do that. And this is not good for Senator Natasha. This must be taken from the angle of law,” he said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended by the Senate in March for alleged breach of legislative rules following her claims of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

She subsequently approached the court to challenge her six-month suspension, praying the court to declare it illegal.

Earlier this month, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on the matter, a judgment widely interpreted to favour her resumption. However, the Senate has insisted that the court only made a recommendation, not a binding order for reinstatement.

Despite the legal ambiguity, the lawmaker appeared at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday in a bid to resume legislative activities, but was turned back by security operatives.

Defending the Senate’s decision, the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, maintained that Akpoti-Uduaghan remains suspended.

Speaking on Politics Today, another Channels Television programme on Tuesday, Adaramodu stated, “There was no clear-cut order from the court directing the Senate to reinstate her. Until the legal process is exhausted and clarification is made, she cannot resume.”

The Senate President is reportedly appealing the court’s ruling, while the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and her attempted resumption continues to stir legal and political debate.