September 13, 2025-Published by Cyril
A fresh legal battle is unfolding in the National Assembly as Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Michael Jonathan Numa, has issued a five-day ultimatum to the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Kamoru Ogunlana, demanding the immediate reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Numa, counsel to the Kogi Central Senator, warned that failure to allow her resumption at the Senate by Monday, September 15, 2025, will trigger multiple legal actions against Ogunlana in both his personal and official capacity. The charges could include contempt of court, breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, and instigating a potential breach of national peace.
The dispute stems from the CNA’s letter claiming that despite the expiration of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension on September 6, 2025, she could not resume due to the pendency of her case before the Court of Appeal. Numa dismissed this position as a ploy to delay her return and deny the people of Kogi Central proper representation.
HEED: Follow us on Instagram or any other social media platform and get the most reliable news directly in your favourite app!
According to Numa, the Senate became functus officio after the expiration of the suspension, meaning it had no further legal authority to extend or reimpose punishment. He insisted that the Clerk overstepped his bounds, acting ultra vires since his role is strictly administrative — to implement Senate decisions and court directives, not create new barriers.
Citing Sections 68 and 69 of the 1999 Constitution, Numa stressed that only specific conditions can lead to a Senator’s seat being declared vacant, and extended suspension is not one of them. He described Ogunlana’s reliance on the sub judice excuse as a politically motivated maneuver to silence Akpoti-Uduaghan and undermine the sovereign will of Kogi Central constituents.
The ultimatum now sets the stage for a potential constitutional and judicial showdown between the National Assembly bureaucracy and the legal team of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
NaijaBlogDaily# is visible on all social media platforms, bringing you the latest Nigerian news on politics, economy, entertainment, and celebrity updates. Including sports across Nigeria and beyond…
Keep visiting and following up with us on any social media platform you are using to keep you updated 💯
Remember (information brings knowledge and power).
STAY TUNED!!!
