Legal practitioner Ekemini Udim has clarified that the recent court judgment concerning Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension did not explicitly order her recall to the Senate.
Udim stated that misinterpreting the court’s recommendations as a recall directive was misleading.
“It is very clear: my Lord has not said, ‘Recall Senator Natasha,’” Udim said. “What the judge said was that, ‘You cannot do like this, you cannot do like that,’ and then makes a recommendation to the Senate… You cannot equate that to a recall order.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended in March for six months after raising allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The Senate cited a violation of its rules as the reason for her suspension.
On Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to return to the National Assembly, asserting that the Federal High Court in Abuja had nullified her suspension. However, security officials at the Assembly denied her entry.
After the incident, the lawmaker addressed journalists, expressing disappointment and vowing to consult her legal team.
Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu later reinforced the position of the upper chamber, stating that the senator “remains suspended” and that the court ruling was merely advisory, not binding.
Udim supported this stance, urging a legal, rather than emotional, interpretation of the court’s verdict. “This must be taken from the angle of law. A lot of people are taking this matter from the emotional angle, and it becomes a problem when you do that,” he said.
The Senate President has since appealed the ruling, maintaining that the legislative body was not compelled by the court to lift the suspension.
The controversy continues to stir debate on legislative immunity, judicial oversight, and the rights of elected lawmakers to representation.
