Lawyer Ibrahim Wali has stated that Senator Natasha Uduaghan should immediately resume her duties in the National Assembly, describing the Senate suspension as unconstitutional.
“Immediately an action overreaches the constitution, it becomes void from the outset. She should have resumed,” Wali said, emphasising the legal invalidity of the Senate’s action.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Wali highlighted the role of the Senate clerk in the ongoing impasse, stating, “By my understanding, it is the communication of the clerk that is creating this impasse. He has trespassed the subjudice threshold. She ought to just resume, and the matter is going to continue because it has to do with the legality.”
Wali expressed concern for the constituents of Kogi Central, noting that they have been denied representation for an extended period.
“The constituents, that is the Kogi Central Senatorial Central District, are robbed of representation. … The constitution, being the supreme document in the land, has been so sidelined in the interpretation of what position should prevail,” he said.
On the legal authority of the Senate clerk, Wali explained, “It is very important to contextualize the power of the clerk of the National Assembly, or rather the clerk of the Senate. If you look at the standing order of the Senate that was amended in 2023, it is clear that his role is limited to taking records, communicating orders, minutes, votes, and proceedings. So for the clerk to come out and claim that he was informed without any attachment of a vote or proceedings by either the Senate leadership or the Senate as a house is already legally defective.”
He added, “The letter as it is, is unfortunately incomplete because it does not communicate its authority, and the clerk does not have the authority to take that position. It is also interesting to note that the clerk is also a party in the case anyway.”
Wali also dismissed arguments that ongoing appeals could delay the Senator’s resumption.
“Senator Natasha appealed, yes, but her appeals are basically on two grounds. The contempt proceedings where it was held that she made a social media post and the court said she should pay five million naira, and the fact that the court held the preliminary objection of the respondents succeeded in part. She’s not making any appeal with regards to the suspension itself or with regards to whether she should resume or not.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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