Developing Story: Akpoti -Uduaghan Denied Access To National Assembly

By PHC Telegraph

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, fresh from Justice Binta’s Nyako’s Court where she secured a ruling, has been denied access to the National Assembly by a team of security agents guarding the facility

The Senator accompanied by leaders of civil society groups, women activists including Aisha Yusufu and supporters of the Senator got through the first gate on Tuesday, but couldn’t go beyond the second which was fortified.

Our correspondent reports that the gate was securely shut  in the face of the returning Senator from Kogi Central despite pressure mounted by her supporters.

On arrival, Natasha had sought to know why she was prevented by the guards at the gate from resuming duty.

None of the security personnel who stood rigidly on guard could volunteer any further information regarding the decision to seal the gate or why they were preventing the fair-skinned Senator from resuming work.

For more than 10 minutes there was a faceoff between the security forces at the gate and supporters of the embattled female senator who insisted she must be allowed to resume work in line with the court ruling.

The Senate has a total of 109 senators. Out of that number, only four of them are women.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had been despatched on a six-month suspension by the Senate in the wake of accusations as well as counter accusations made on the floor between her and Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate.

A court order issued by an Abuja High Court agreed that the suspension meted out to Sen Natasha was excessive but it however failed to make a declarative order restating her in office.

The order seen as feeble in legal circles rather advised the Senate to consider the prospect of recalling the female Senator whose constituents are being denied daily representation.