Senate President Godswill Akpabio has announced the replacement of suspended senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations
Akpabio, during plenary on Thursday, announced Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new chairman of the committee.
As a result, Bassey replaces Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, whose leadership of the committee had been uncertain due to her suspension.
Recall that in a minor reshuffle earlier in February, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was removed as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content and reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee.
Although no formal explanation was provided for her replacement, it is thought that the move may not be unconnected to her suspension.
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court had ordered Natasha’s reinstatement, mandating her to tender an apology to the Senate for her conduct.
But the Senate maintains it is yet to receive a certified true copy of the court’s judgement.
Natasha, on her part, is yet to tender the apology.
GISTSMATE MEDIA earlier reported that Senator Natasha shelved her earlier plan to resume plenary on Tuesday following the court nullification of her suspension, opting instead to await the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment.
The Kogi Central lawmaker, who had initially declared her intention to return to the Red Chamber immediately, made a U-turn on Monday, saying her next steps would depend on the availability of the court document.
Her shift came as tension gripped the National Assembly, with an unusual security buildup hinting at expectations of a dramatic return, possibly echoing her controversial chopper landing in Kogi after being blocked from holding a rally.
Despite public sentiment and the court’s declaration that her suspension was unconstitutional and excessive, a purported legal advisory dated July 5 from the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu, SAN, insisted that the judgment offered no enforceable directive mandating her reinstatement.
Speaking on AIT, Senator Natasha defended her continued service during the suspension, citing completed development projects and progress on key bills, particularly her proposed Gold Reserve Bill.
She warned that her exclusion from the Senate not only undermines representation for Kogi Central but also deepens the gender gap in the National Assembly, where the number of female senators has dropped from eight to just three.
In the meantime, Senator Natasha emphasized that she had remained active during her suspension, pursuing development projects and engaging federal agencies.
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