Abuja — Wahala don burst again for National Assembly as PDP and plenty Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) don blast Senate over di mata wey stop Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her seat when Senate go reopen September 23.
Inside one letter wey carry date September 4, di Acting Clerk to National Assembly, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, tell Natasha say her six-month suspension wey dem give her since March 6 still dey hold until Court of Appeal finish di case wey she carry go court against Senate.
Natasha bin hope say she go return after di six months don complete, but di letter cancel dat plan.
Di senator first suspend after Senate Ethics Committee accuse her of insubordination because she no gree vacate seat wey dem assign. Since den, dem strip her salary, aides and office privileges. She don dey talk say di whole suspension na politics because she accuse Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—wey Senate sharply deny.
For July, she even try force herself enter chamber but security block am as her supporters protest outside.
PDP Vex
PDP, through their spokesperson Debo Ologunagba, talk say di action na attempt to silence opposition and deny Kogi Central people of representation.
“This na clear danger to democracy. APC dey use National Assembly to intimidate opposition voice. We dey call on international community and rights groups make dem intervene,” PDP yarn.
Lawyers React
Plenty SANs don follow talk put:
Adedayo Adedeji (SAN): say suspension don expire, make Senate allow her return or else dem dey violate Constitution.
Wale Balogun (SAN): say Senate dey punish her people, six months suspension don finish, nothing fit extend am indirectly.
Paul Obi (SAN): call Senate action “overkill and unjustifiable”.
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN): accuse Senate of “pettiness and vindictiveness”, say dem dey indirectly extend punishment.
But Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) get different view. He say both parties suppose wait make court give final judgment.
SERAP Join Mata
Civil rights group SERAP join dey condemn di action, call am “travesty of justice”.
“No law stop Natasha from resuming her duty while case still dey court. Senate must allow her resume immediately,” SERAP talk.
As September 23 dey near, pressure dey mount on Senate leadership to allow Natasha return or face more backlash.
