*Insists On No Apologies
THE Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has resumed duties at her office in the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, after its unsealing by officials of the national legislature.
Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived the complex, where she had earlier been refused entry following her six-month suspension, about 12:30 p.m., accompanied by a crowd of supporters, including an activist and Co-founder of #BringBackOurGilrs Movement, Aisha Yesufu, waving Nigerian flags.
The supporters were, however, not allwed entry into the complex by security operatives at the main gate, who dispersed them with teargas when they refused to leave the scene.
The senator and her supporters began their demonstration at the FCT High Court in Maitama before marching to the National Assembly Complex.
Akpoti-Uduaghan and a few aides were eventually allowed access into the building, and she proceeded to her office in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing and took her seat.
Addressing journalists, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained a defiant stand, saying she will never apologise to the Senate and affirmed that she had resumed her duties.
She also insisted that it would amount to injustice if she was not allowed to resume her legislative duties, as the matter was pending in court, adding: “I am still waiting for the letter, because it is very important to understand the conditions that they might set illegally concerning this.
“I read in the newspapers that the leadership’s meeting was held yesterday and the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, upon resumption on October 7, would present a motion calling on me to apologise.
“So, I am actually worried as to what apology they expect from me. You can’t apologise for an injustice. So, this is just one illegality upon the other, and I think in Nigeria, we should reject such things.
“I think it is actually appalling that such an amount of illegality exists, so if they are expecting me to apologise, I am sorry, I don’t have those words.
“If that is the condition for opening this office, then I think we have a long dance to go.”
She added: “How much we have had to face and survive in the past six months and most of this happened to the full glare of Nigerians.
“From the unjust suspension to the recall, we survived. We survived the blockage of roads and waterways into Kogi that we had to fly in through using the helicopter. We survived the blackmail from the so-called woman from US.
“You know, it is amazing that we had to survive. To God Almighty we give the glory. My deepest appreciation to the good people of Kogi Central, Kogi State and Nigeria at large.”
Assuring Nigerians that the future is bright, urging them not to give up on democracy, adding: “Let Nigerians know that the future is bright, we just can’t give up our hope, our democracy is evolving.
“I trust that every day leading into 2027, we will be able to put out actions that will be worthwhile, because patriotically, we have a country to save.”
The National Assembly management was yet to issue a formal statement on whether she has been officially cleared to resume, having served out her six-month suspension, even as the matter remains in court.
She had wanted to resume her legislative duties and representation of her district, but the National Assembly management insisted she could not while the case was pending.
The management later clarified that only Akpabio could approve her resumption.
Recall that the senate, on March 6, suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months on the recommendations of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, which accused her of defying the senate’s sitting arrangement and engaging in alleged misconduct during a plenary session on February 20.
Apart from suspending her, the senate also withdrew her security aides, sealed her office, suspended her salary and allowances and barred her from entering the National Assembly Complex.
The Green Chamber stated that she could be recalled only if she tendered a written apology. But rather than do so, Akpoti-Uduaghan went to court to challenge her suspension.
In July, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ruled in her favour, holding that suspending an elected lawmaker for six months amounts to denying her constituents their right to representation.
The court, however, did issue any order for her immediate reinstatement, but issued an advisory opinion, urging the senate to reconsider the suspension.
In a separate ruling later, Justice Binta Nyako found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of civil contempt over a satirical social media post deemed disrespectful to the court.
The Judge ordered her to pay a fine of N5million and to publish a public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Akpabio filed a cross-appeal at the Court of Appeal on July 11.
