Suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was on Tuesday blocked from entering the National Assembly complex despite claims that a ruling from the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court reinstated her.
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, accompanied by activist Aisha Yesufu and supporters singing “Na our senator be this o, we no get another one,” met heavy resistance at the second gate of the National Assembly complex as officers halted the procession.
The embattled lawmaker abandoned her black SUV at the second gate and walked on foot to access the complex.
The senator suspended in May over alleged misconduct from not speaking from her designated seat, said a ruling by Justice Binta Nyako reinstated her but Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, denied the existence of such an order.
He said that the Kogi lawmaker was “attempting to act upon an imaginary order of recall that does not exist.”
Mr Adaramodu on Sunday said the court only issued a “non-binding advisory” urging the Senate to reconsider recalling Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, asserting that it was not an explicit order that the Senate must obey.
Mr Adaramodu stated in the statement, “The Senate had previously issued two public statements after the court ruling and the release of the Certified True Copy of the Enrolled Order, making it clear that no positive or mandatory directive was issued against the Senate regarding her recall.
“Rather, the Honourable Court gave a non-binding advisory urging the Senate to consider amending its Standing Orders and reviewing the suspension, which it opined might be excessive. The court, however, explicitly held that the Senate did not breach any law or constitutional provision in imposing the disciplinary measure based on the senator’s misconduct during plenary.
“It is therefore surprising and legally untenable that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, while on appeal and having filed a motion for stay against the valid and binding orders made against her, is attempting to act upon an imaginary order of recall that does not exist.”
