The National Assembly has responded to a notification from the lawmaker representing Kogi Central senatorial, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, regarding her intention to resume duties on July 15 following a Federal High Court ruling on July 4.
In the ruling, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja declared Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension from the Senate as excessive and a denial of representation for her constituency.
The court also stated that the Senate should recall the suspended lawmaker to resume her legislative duties.
However, in its response to the senator’s letter, the National Assembly clarified that the court did not issue a direct order compelling the Senate to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
A letter signed by Charles Yoila, Director of Litigation and Counselling, stated that Justice Nyako did not make any specific order directing the President of the Senate or the National Assembly to act.
It added that, rather, the declaratory judgment advised the defendants to consider exercising their discretion to recall the senator, in order to continue representing her constituents who sent her to represent them.
The letter concluded by noting that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan should await further action from the Senate, which retains the discretion to implement the court’s advisory decision.
