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Lawyer Slams Senator Natasha Akpoti – Uduaghan For Lawlessness To Access National Assembly

 

By Dennis Udoma

A legal expert, Ken Harries has slammed the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for contradictory and unlawful attempt to enforce a judgment she had already appealed.

Harries swipe came on the heels of Akpoti-Uduaghanโ€™s unlawful attempt to resume sitting at the National Assembly yesterday (Tuesday), where she reportedly claimed that, a Federal High Court judgment had ordered her reinstatement.

Her dramatic entry, accompanied by a group of supporters, sparked concerns among legal minds and political observers.

Harries said, โ€œIn all my years of legal practice, Iโ€™ve never seen such a blatant abuse of judicial process by a supposed federal lawmaker.

โ€œYou cannot appeal a judgment and simultaneously try to enforce it. Thatโ€™s not just improper; it is lawless noting that, Akpoti-Uduaghan dissatisfied with the Federal High Court ruling of July 4, had filed an appeal seeking to overturn the decision.

โ€œYou either accept the judgment and comply, or reject it and challenge it at the appellate level โ€” you canโ€™t do both”.

He questioned the moral standing of the embattled lawmaker, pointing out that, she had yet to comply with several Court directives in the same judgment she now claims to enforce.

“Has she paid the N5 million penalty imposed by the court? Has she published the mandatory public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page, as ordered?โ€

Beyond the legal contradiction, Harries raised alarm over Akpoti-Uduaghanโ€™s use of a defunct Senate Committee letterhead saying that, she is no longer has any authority to communicate with law enforcement.

โ€œThat is not just misleading; it borders on forgery and impersonation, both of which are criminal offences,โ€ he added.

Observers have also accused the suspended Senator of sedition and incitement following her public remarks during the visit, which have since gone viral. โ€œHer speech, her conduct, and the overall disruption she caused are clear threats to public peace and institutional integrity,โ€ a concerned source noted.

Critics argued that, Akpoti-Uduaghanโ€™s recent behavior shows disregard for both legal norms and democratic institutions, and warned that failure to act may encourage further infractions by others.

The legal luminary also asserted that, her misbehaviour cannot be allowed to fester as Nigeria is not a banana republic, where nobody is above the law, calling on the law enforcement agencies to perform their constitutional duties without fear or favor.

โ€œSentiments or political affiliations must not deter justice. If left unchecked, this behavior sets a dangerous precedent. Itโ€™s time to restore order and reaffirm the sanctity of the rule of law.โ€

The Federal Government, National Assembly leadership, and security agencies have so far remained restrained in response, but Harries and other legal voices warned that continued silence could embolden lawlessness.

โ€œThe law must act and swiftly too, otherwise, we risk turning justice into theatre”, stated Mr. Harries.

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