Victor Giwa, lawyer to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of using his office to punish the Kogi Central lawmaker.
The accusation comes after the Senate rejected Akpoti-Uduaghan’s request to resume duties following a six-month suspension.
On Tuesday, September 9, the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, acknowledged receiving her letter notifying the chamber of her intent to return on September 4, the date marking the end of her suspension.
Giwa described the Senate’s action as “double jeopardy,” comparing it to forcing an inmate to serve another sentence after completing the first.
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He told Channels TV’s Politics Today, “This is a kind of witchcraft logic the Senate is putting forward. It doesn’t make sense. Even law student will know better.
“The institution of the Senate to be dessicated in this manner for Akpabio to use the office of the Senate president to pursue what is now a personal vendetta.
“It brings a question to whether really there is veracity in what Natasha said. Why Akpabio will not allow time and history to vindicate him? After this woman has served her punishment, you are still saying she can’t resume her function.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team has maintained that she has fulfilled the terms of her suspension and should be allowed to return immediately, in accordance with the Senate’s rules and her rights as an elected lawmaker.