Nigeria’s Senate on Thursday announced the removal of Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, who made the announcement during plenary, said the Kogi State lawmaker had been replaced with Sen. Aniekan Bassey
Although no explanation was given by the Senate President for Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s replacement, analysts believe that he removal may not be unconnected to her suspension by the Red Chamber a few weeks ago following her alleged non-conformity with Senate rules during legislative sessions.
It would be recalled that in a minor reshuffle earlier in February, the Kogi State lawmaker was removed as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content and reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee.
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Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan had following her suspension from the Senate some weeks ago had filed a lawsuit challenging her suspension.
Last week, after hearing the lawmaker’s suit, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered the Senate to reinstate the embattled lawmaker, ordering her to tender an apology to the Senate for her conduct.
Since the court’s judgment, the Senate leadership had yet to comply with the order, maintaining that it is yet to receive a certified true copy of the court’s judgment.
On her part, Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is yet to tender the apology as ordered by the court.
