184
By Lizzy Chirkpi
Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday staged a bold attempt to resume legislative duties at the National Assembly complex — the same day Senate President Godswill Akpabio filed a detailed cross-appeal challenging a court judgment that had questioned the legality and length of her suspension.
The embattled lawmaker representing Kogi Central arrived at the National Assembly premises in Abuja, flanked by notable activist, Aisha Yesufu and members of several civil society organizations.
She was however met with a security barricade mounted by heavily armed Mobile Police (MOPOL) officers and security operatives at all entry points.
Despite efforts to gain entry, the Kogi lawmaker was denied access into the main complex and was seen engaging in a tense verbal exchange with security agents and the Sergeant-at-Arms. She was eventually stopped at the inner gate after wading through the first checkpoint at Mopol Gate.
“This is not just about Natasha it’s about democracy, dignity, and due process,” Aisha Yesufu declared at the scene.
Meanwhile, at the Court of Appeal, legal fireworks intensified as Akpabio filed a Notice of Cross-Appeal challenging critical aspects of the July 4 judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Filed through Afe Babalola & Co., the cross-appeal targets portions of the judgment where the court refused to strike out Natasha’s suit and opined that her suspension was excessive, even suggesting she be recalled to the Senate.
In a 11 separate ground of appeal, Akpabio argues that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on the Senate disciplinary procedures and that Senator Natasha failed to exhaust internal redress mechanisms, as required by the Senate Standing Orders and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
“The judiciary must not usurp the legislative authority of the Senate. The court cannot rewrite parliamentary procedures,” the appellant’s counsel submitted in the appeal brief.
Akpabio’s legal team further insists that Natasha failed to issue a three-month pre-action notice to the Clerk of the National Assembly before instituting her suit — a statutory prerequisite under Section 21 of the Legislative Houses Act.
It therefore urged the appellate court to strike out the originating summons entirely.
Also contested is the Federal High Court’s decision to raise and pronounce on issues such as the excessiveness of the six-month suspension, a point Natasha did not raise in her originating summons. According to the appeal, the trial court breached Akpabio’s right to fair hearing by deciding on an issue neither argued nor submitted by the parties.
“The lower court stepped into the arena of conflict. No court can decide what parties did not bring before it,” the cross-appeal read.
The Senate President is joined in the appeal by the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
The matter is rapidly shaping up to be a landmark legal and constitutional showdown over the separation of powers, legislative immunity, and the rights of elected lawmakers.
While Senator Natasha remains physically locked out of the Senate chamber, the battle for her political reinstatement has now fully shifted to the courtroom with far-reaching implications for legislative independence and judicial oversight in Nigeria.