A senior legal practitioner, Mr. Ken Harries, has criticised suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for attempting to enforce a Federal High Court judgment which she is also challenging at the Court of Appeal.
Reacting to reports of the senator’s attempted entry into the National Assembly complex on Tuesday, Harries said her actions amounted to taking the law into her own hands and disregarding legal procedures.
“How do you invade the National Assembly, claiming to enforce a judgment?” he asked. “There are clear procedures for enforcing court judgments. It is not for individuals to act unilaterally or create chaos under the guise of enforcement.”
Harries noted that Akpoti-Uduaghan, just a week ago, filed an appeal challenging the same judgment she now claims to be enforcing, describing her actions as contradictory and lacking legal basis.
“How can you enforce a judgment you have already condemned, appealed against, and asked the Court of Appeal to reverse?” he queried.
He also pointed out that the judgment in question contained conditions which the senator had reportedly not fulfilled.
“Has she complied with all the orders made against her, including the payment of N5 million in damages and the required public apology in two newspapers and on her Facebook page?” Harries asked.
He maintained that non-compliance with those directives weakened her moral ground to accuse the Senate of disobedience.
“Anyone seeking equity must come with clean hands. Her legal team should have properly advised her on lawful means of pursuing justice,” he added.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate for six months over alleged violation of the Senate Standing Rules. She had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the suspension, and on the strength of a judgment delivered last week, vowed to resume legislative duties on Tuesday.
However, Senate authorities have insisted that no valid or subsisting court order compels the red chamber to recall her before the expiration of the suspension. This position was reaffirmed on Tuesday.
Security operatives stationed at the National Assembly entry points reportedly barred Akpoti-Uduaghan and her supporters from gaining access to the premises.
Despite the ongoing legal dispute, Akpoti-Uduaghan has vowed to pursue further action, including possible moves against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accuses of engineering her suspension.
