N’assembly clerk says he lacks power to reinstate Natasha Akpoti

The office of the clerk to the national assembly says itlacks power to allow Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended senatorrepresenting Kogi central, to resume legislative duties. In a statement on Monday, Bullah Bi-Allah, director ofinformation at the office of the clerk, said the attention of the secretariatwas drawn to media reports and public commentary on Akpoti-Uduaghan’ssuspension, her attempt to resume duties, and a petition by her lawyers, M. J.Numa & Partners LLP. Bi-Allah noted that the office of the clerk functionsstrictly as an administrative arm, supporting the senate in line with itsresolutions, standing orders, and the 1999 Constitution. He added that the clerk has no powers to review, reverse orinterpret decisions of the senate. On March 6, the senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for sixmonths for “gross misconduct”. Bi-Allah noted that while the decision was challenged incourt, the federal high court did not invalidate the suspension, adding that nobinding order has been issued to reverse or modify the resolution. On September 4, Akpoti-Uduaghan informed the clerk’s officeof her intention to resume legislative duties. Bi-Allah noted that while she could have addressed theletter directly to the senate president, the correspondence was forwarded tothe red chamber’s leadership, which observed that the matter is still beforethe court of appeal. According to him, the senate leadership maintained that anychange to her suspension must be backed by either a new resolution or adefinite court order. “This communication was what the clerk to the nationalassembly conveyed in the letter, no more, no less,” the statement reads. “The clerk is therefore not in a position to facilitate herresumption at this time.” He said the clerk’s office expressed dismay over a letterfrom Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyers accusing the clerk of overreach and threateninglegal and disciplinary action. He said the clerk has at all times acted within lawfullimits and in observance of due process and emphasised that the authority todecide whether Akpoti-Uduaghan can resume her legislative duties after thesuspension lies solely with the senate. He noted that the clerk remains guided by the principles ofconstitutionalism, institutional respect and the rule of law. Bi-Allah called on the public to be patient and allow thesenate and the courts to discharge their responsibilities.

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