Senator Natasha Heads To Appeal Court After NASS Blockage, Blasts Akpabio
Suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has vowed to escalate her legal battle to the Court of Appeal following her denial of access to the National Assembly complex on Tuesday, in defiance of a subsisting Federal High Court ruling which ordered her reinstatement.
The embattled lawmaker, who arrived at the National Assembly in Abuja with hopes of resuming plenary, was barred from entry by security operatives stationed at the gates.
This development has since sparked outrage among her supporters, legal commentators and observers of the nation’s democratic process.
Addressing journalists after the incident, Akpoti-Uduaghan did not hold back in her condemnation of the Senate leadership, particularly Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of acting in flagrant disregard of the rule of law.
“Akpabio cannot be greater than the Nigerian Constitution. The Office of the Senate President does not confer legitimacy on me. My legitimacy comes from the people of Kogi Central who freely gave me their mandate. The court has ruled in my favour and until an appeal court says otherwise, that judgment stands,” she said.
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court had last week delivered a ruling ordering the reinstatement of the senator, a decision that was widely seen as a victory for democratic representation. However, the refusal of the Senate to honour the ruling has once again raised concerns over the widening gap between political authority and judicial compliance in Nigeria.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, visibly incensed, described her suspension as “fraudulent and procedurally flawed,” and accused the leadership of the red chamber of willfully undermining constitutional order.
“The fact that I was denied entrance to the National Assembly is a clear message to Nigerians. The Senate under Akpabio has chosen to act in contempt of court. It is ironic that those who are tasked with making laws have now become the first to violate them,” she said.
The senator also decried what she termed a constitutional crisis, warning that the current situation, if left unchecked, would erode public confidence in democratic institutions.
“This is no longer about Natasha. It is about the soul of our democracy. If we continue along this path, we are setting a very dangerous precedent. Today it is Natasha; tomorrow it could be anyone,” she said.
She further revealed plans to meet with her legal team to initiate proceedings at the appellate court for a legal interpretation of the National Assembly’s action.
“I am a law-abiding citizen. I will continue to pursue justice through due process. Going forward, we are heading to the Appeal Court. We must clarify what has just happened and make it clear that Nigeria is a country governed by laws, not whims,” she stated.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
