Why Court Ordered Senate To Recall Natasha
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Senate to recall the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
This ruling was delivered on Friday by Justice Binta Nyako, who described the six-month suspension slammed on Akpoti-Uduaghan as excessive.
The court, in its judgment, noted that the Senate pushed her away from her responsibilities to her constituents for 180 days since lawmakers have a total of 181 days to sit in every legislative cycle.
It acknowledged the jurisdiction of the upper bicameral legislature to punish erring lawmakers but noted that the sanctions must not deprive the constituents of their right to representation.
The court held that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was not wrong to have denied the suspended senator, who was not in the official seat that was allotted to her, the opportunity to speak during plenary.
The judge also dismissed Akpabio’s contention that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the lawsuit.
THECONSCIENCE had earlier reported that the court found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt and awarded a one-million-naira fine against her for acting in breach of its order that barred the parties from making public statements pertaining to the subject matter of the suit.
