Suspended Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has vowed to return to the Senate on Tuesday despite warnings from the upper chamber that no valid court order mandates her reinstatement.
“I will be there, because the court did make the decision on that,” she said in her hometown of Ihima. “I have written to the Senate again telling them that I’m resuming on the 22nd, by the special grace of God.”
Her comments came after last Friday’s ruling by Justice Binta Nyako, which declared her six-month suspension unconstitutional and ordered her reinstatement. However, the Senate insists the judgment is advisory rather than mandatory.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu cautioned Akpoti-Uduaghan against attempting to resume her legislative duties before the suspension expires.
“There is no subsisting court order mandating the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before the expiration of her suspension,” Adaramodu said.
He added that while the Senate remains committed to due process and the rule of law, the suspended senator should refrain from any attempt to forcefully return to the chamber.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March following her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The Senate has since appealed the court ruling at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
