Judul : Why I won’t beg Akpabio — Natasha breaks silence after Senate blockade
link : Why I won’t beg Akpabio — Natasha breaks silence after Senate blockade
Why I won’t beg Akpabio — Natasha breaks silence after Senate blockade
Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has explained why she will not beg Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following her unsuccessful attempt to resume duties at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was suspended by the Senate in March for six months for allegedly breaching its Standing Orders on seat allocation, specifically Order 6.
The senator had challenged her suspension at the Federal High Court in Abuja. In a July 4 ruling, Justice Binta Nyako described the duration of the suspension as “excessive” and advised the Senate to exercise its discretion to recall her.
However, the court also fined Akpoti-Uduaghan 5 million for contempt and directed her to publish an apology in two national dailies and on her Facebook page.
To date, Akpoti-Uduaghan has not met those conditions, while the Senate leadership has appealed the ruling.
Both parties have since interpreted the judgment differently, with each claiming it favoured them.
Insisting that the judgment ordered her reinstatement, Akpoti-Uduaghan stormed the National Assembly complex on Tuesday, accompanied by activists and supporters, demanding to resume her legislative duties.
Two days earlier, Senate Spokesman Senator Yemi Adaramodu had issued a warning to the suspended lawmaker, stating that the Senate had not received any binding court order requiring her reinstatement.
“The Senate wishes to reaffirm, for the third time, that there is no subsisting court order mandating the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before the expiration of her suspension,” he stated.
Despite this, Akpoti-Uduaghan showed up at the complex determined to gain entry. After being denied access at the first gate, known as the MOPOL Gate, she protested and opted to walk to the second gate.
At the main gate, however, she was met by heavy security presence. Officers who had arrived as early as 5 a.m. cordoned off the entrance and conducted thorough checks on visitors and staff. Several police vans were also stationed at strategic points as Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived around noon.
Supporters carrying placards sang and danced in solidarity, but security personnel denied her entry and asked her to leave.
She remained at the gate for hours, insisting on her right to enter the premises.
Speaking at the scene, activist Aisha Yesufu said, “This is a place for all Nigerians. Everyone can enter the National Assembly. Why are they locking the gates? We are going to keep waiting here.”
Addressing reporters, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was at the Assembly to enforce her rights based on the court judgment.
Natasha vowed never to apologise to Akpabio, stating she would rather wait out the suspension than beg for something she didn’t do.
“There is just no reason why these gates should not be open,” she said. “But by and large, considering the fact that the Senate is vacating tomorrow, whenever they deem it fit to resume, we would resume as well.
“So what matters most is all the pressures and all the calls for me to apologise for no wrong that I did. I have refused to do that.”
She accused Senate President Akpabio of using his position to punish her over personal grievances, specifically referencing her past sexual harassment allegation against him.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further claimed that it was Akpabio—not the entire Senate—who appealed the court judgment.
“It is clear that it is not the National Assembly, neither is it the Senate that appealed the judgment. It’s Akpabio himself,” she said.
“Read it. The President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Akpabio, he is the only appellant. The National Assembly has not appealed that judgment. The Senate has not appealed the judgment. The Committee on Ethics that suspended me wrongly has not appealed the judgment.
“As a matter of fact, Senator Akpabio joined the Clerk of the National Assembly, the entire Senate, and the Chairman of the Ethics Committee as joint respondents to the case.
“That means Akpabio has taken the National Assembly, the Senate, the Clerk, and the Committee to court as well. Do you understand? That must be clarified. So there is no reason whatsoever, contrary to the publications I read yesterday, that I should not resume.”
As of Tuesday, the Senate had made no further comment on the matter.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).Demikianlah Artikel Why I won’t beg Akpabio — Natasha breaks silence after Senate blockade
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