The Senate has said that the Certified True Copy (CTC) of Federal High Court judgment on Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension did not contain any express or mandatory order directing her recall or reinstatement before expiration of the suspension.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adaramodu was responding to a letter addressed to the leadership of the National Assembly, dated July 11 and authored by the law firm of Numa SAN on behalf of Akpoti-Uduaghan.
He said the letter hinged its request on Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), purporting that the judgment delivered by of Justice Binta Nyako on July 4 constituted a binding order directing the immediate recall of Akpoti-Uduaghan to the senate chamber on July 15.
“There is no legal basis upon which Sen. Natasha can resume legislative duties at this time,” the senator maintained.
Adaramodu said that the judge merely made advisory observations on the length of the suspension, which are not enforceable or binding in law.
He further stated that the enrolled order clearly demonstrated that the senate’s disciplinary powers under Section 60 of the constitution remained intact and were not invalidated.
“Nowhere in the judgment did the court issue a declaratory or injunctive order mandating her recall.
“However, the senate will consider and deliberate on this judgment and consequently take a constitutionally-informed position on the matter and convey the outcome to the affected senator and the public.
“The senate remains committed to the principles of constitutional democracy, judicial independence and the rule of law,” he said.
Adaramodu said that the senate would not allow its processes or integrity to be undermined by premature interpretations of ongoing legal proceedings or by misapplications of constitutional provisions.
