The Senate has reacted to the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
While the court ordered that she be reinstated, the Senate said it will not act on the directive until she fulfills certain conditions.
According to the Senate, the judgment did not take away its constitutional authority to discipline its members.
It stated that although the court questioned the length of the suspension, it confirmed that the Senate still had the power to sanction any senator who acts against its rules.
The Senate declared that Akpoti-Uduaghan must first obey the part of the court’s ruling that found her guilty of contempt.
This includes publishing a formal apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page, as well as paying a fine of N5 million.
Only after she complies with these conditions will the Senate meet to review her case and decide on the next step.
Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu explained that the decision now rests on the senator’s response to the court’s directives.
He added that once she meets the requirements, the Senate will consider the matter afresh.
“Which judgment are we appealing when they (the court) said the Senate has the right to discipline its erring members? The court has not ousted the Senate’s statutory right to punish any erring senator.
“It was established that the senator in question erred. The court has already told her to go and do some things, like restitution, so after the restitution, the Senate will now sit again and consider the content of that restitution, and that will inform our next line of action.
“The onus is no more on us now; it is already on her doorstep to go and apologise. Once she does that, then the Senate will sit and determine how to deal with her matter.
“The first reaction now will not be from us, the court has ruled, so once she takes the step to redress and does what the court has directed her to do, then the Senate will sit and look at the content of her reaction as prescribed by the court,” Adaramodu said.
