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Akpabio, Appealed Court Judgement, Not Senate – Natasha
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As Aisha Yesufu Slams Police, Akpabio
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, has expressed concern over the refusal of security operatives to allow her access to the National Assembly on Tuesday.
It will be recalled that the senator had earlier announced readiness to resume her duties at the senate on Tuesday following a Federal High Court, presided by Binta Nyako had recommended that she be reinstated, after It faulted the six months suspension slammed on her by the senate, pointing out that it has the capacity of denying her constituency good representation.
Natasha, who went to the senate in the company of her supporters, among them, Aisha Yesufu, an activist, was stopped by the security operatives from accessing the Assembly complex.
They were compelled to walk all the way from the main gate to the National Assembly gate.
Speaking with journalists, the senator lamented over the number of armed policemen that she met outside, saying that they were well-kitted with guns, charged at a female senator who is unarmed with her people.
The lawmaker said that the Senate, under the leadership of Godswill Akpabio, decided to unlawfully break a court decision by denying her entrance into the chamber.
According to her it wasn’t the National Assembly, nor the Senate, but Akpabio who appealed the court judgment.
“As a matter of fact, Senator Akpabio joined the clerk of the National Assembly, the entire Senate, and the Chairman Committee on Ethics as joint respondents to the case. That means Akpabio has taken the National Assembly and the Senate and the clerk and the committee to court as well.”
Natasha slammed Akpabio, saying that it’s a shame that Nigeria had so many good Senate Presidents, stressing that Akpabio is the worst of them.
“We’ve had Chuba Okadigbo of blessed memory. We’ve had Senator David Mark. We’ve had Bukola Saraki. We’ve even had Ahmed Lawan, who is a senator right now. This president is the worst Assembly Nigeria has ever had.
“Godswill Akpabio acts as if he’s the third term governor of Akwa Ibom State. Many senators are afraid. You’re not allowed to speak. When you try to speak or air your views on certain issues that are critical, you get shut down if it doesn’t conform with what he wants.
“So far, I’ve not been given any official reason. I’ve only read in the papers yesterday that I shouldn’t resume today, because the Senate has appealed, and that’s why I presented to you that the Senate hasn’t appealed the judgment. It’s Akpabio himself. He’s abusing power by using the entire institution to fight me. It’s a personal vendetta that Akpadibo is unleashing.”
Speaking further she said, “Because you can’t have his own senatorial district, and then deprive the Kogi Central of representation. There’s just no reason why this gate shouldn’t be open.”
She said that she would return whenever the senate resumes, considering the fact that the Senate is vacating tomorrow, Wednesday to resume in September.
She said that her lawyers will get back to court to seek interpretation of what happened at the National Assembly where she was stopped from entering the chamber to carry out her legislative duties.
Aisha Yesufu, an activist, in her remarks, slammed Akpabio and the police for denying Natasha access to the Red Chamber.
She said, “Akpabio has broken the law. We’re here and the gate has been locked. We had to walk all the way and they refused to allow a senator that was voted by her people into her office. We have the Nigerian police as shameless as ever. Yesterday (Monday) we saw some of their colleagues who have retired, some of them barely two years ago, protested because of their welfare and today they’re being brought in to support the injustice that’s being meted out to a senator.
“At what time was there an appeal? Akpabio did the appeal and put the senate as respondents. Akpabio isn’t the senate. They’re just first among equals. This injustice cannot be sustained. This is rascality at the highest order.”
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