Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday made good her vow to resume at the National Assembly but was denied entry.
Upon her arrival around noon, the Kogi Central lawmaker, who rode in a black car, was stopped by security operatives at the first gate of the National Assembly.
After some minutes, Senator Natasha alighted from her vehicle and walked into the National Assembly premises in Abuja, accompanied by her supporters, including activist Aisha Yesufu.
She was stopped again at the 2nd gate and asked to turn back. However, the senator and her supporters made their way past the checkpoint only to meet a locked gate.
Despite attempts to gain entry, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and her team of supporters were denied access.
They later left with the lawmaker expressing displeasure over the move. The Kogi lawmaker said she will consult her legal team to know the next steps. She vowed to resume once the Senate – expected to go for a two-month recess – resumes.
Last week, the lawmaker vowed to resume sitting after a court asked the Senate to recall her.
On March 6, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for breaching its rules. Her suspension came amid her claims of sexual harassment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The Kogi lawmaker challenged the matter in court, saying her suspension was illegal. A few weeks ago, the Federal High Court in Abuja asked the Senate to recall her from the suspension. However, the senate president has appealed the decision.
On Saturday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan vowed to resume sitting on Tuesday, citing the court judgement.
“I have pretty much two months more before the six months expire. However, I have written to the Senate again telling them that I’m resuming on the 22nd, which is on Tuesday, by the special grace of God,” she said during an empowerment programme in her Ihima hometown of Kogi.
“I will be there, because the court did make the decision on that. Now, they argue that it’s an order — it’s not an order, but it is a decision.”
Following her comment, the Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, insisted that there was no subsisting court order mandating the lawmakers to recall her before the expiration of the suspension.
Credit: channelstv.com
