I will appeal action at higher court – Akpoti-Uduaghan
There was confusion at the premises of the National Assembly on Tuesday, when security operatives denied the Kogi-Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan entry into the Senate chambers.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan who arrived the National Assembly Complex around 1pm, was first denied entry at the gate.
Natasha who arrived in company of activists Aisha Yusufu and other supporters, stepped down from their vehicles and entered the security personnel prevented her from entering, WatchmanPost which monitored the event on Channels TV can report.
While she walked down at the premises, together with members of the press, the Senator was denied access to the second gate which was under lock and key and heavily protected by security men.
Speaking to journalists following the incident, Akpoti-Uduaghan condemned the Senate’s actions, calling it an act of contempt of court by the Senate under President Godswill Akpabio.
“Akpabio cannot be greater than the Nigerian Constitution. I want Nigerians to know that the Office of the Senate President doesn’t give me legitimacy as a senator.
“The fact that he has done an appeal does not invalidate the decision of Justice Binta Nyako, and that does not stop me from being a senator. I got my legitimacy as a senator from the people of Kogi who voted me into the office as senator.
“That I’ve been denied entrance to the National Assembly is a statement being made. It’s on record that the National Assembly under Akpabio has decided to be in contempt of a court decision, and it’s quite ironic that they are lawmakers. That poses the question: how far is our democracy in this day and age?,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also questioned the basis of her initial suspension, stating, “Even the suspension ab initio was fraudulent—the document was faulty.”
Speaking about her next line of action, she said, “Going forward, I will have a meeting with my legal team so they proceed to the appellate court to seek interpretation into what just happened. I’m a law-abiding citizen.”
Meanwhile, the Senate, which may have been on plenary at the moment, had not issued any statement on the court ruling or Tuesday’s development.
Meanwhile, activist Aisha Yusufu who accompanied the Senator to the premises was seen shouting at security personnel and questioning the legitimacy of those that asked them to be at the gate.
