By Correspondent in Abuja.
,,,,,,Media practitioner supports the Senator.
A legal practitioner, Ken Harries, has said that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan cannot enforce a court judgment which she has already challenged at the Court of Appeal.
Harries made the statement in Abuja while reacting to the Kogi Central lawmaker’s reported visit to the National Assembly on Tuesday, where she attempted to resume legislative duties, citing a judgment of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja.
Our correspondent reports that, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the National Assembly alongside a group of supporters, insisting that the FHC ruling mandated her reinstatement.
However, the senator had recently filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking to overturn the same judgment.
The ruling, delivered on July 4 by Justice Binta Nyako, found the senator in contempt of court and imposed a fine of ₦5 million.
In her appeal, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the judgment as legally flawed and procedurally irregular, calling for its reversal.
Reacting to the situation, Harries questioned the legal basis for attempting to enforce a judgment that is actively being contested.
According to him,the Senator cannot enforce a judgment she appealed against noting that legal procedures must be followed in enforcing any court ruling, stressing that such actions must not be based on unilateral interpretation.
He said that in a democratic society governed by the rule of law, there are laid-down processes for judgment enforcement, pointing out that these must be followed to avoid breakdown of order.
The legal practitioner also referenced the appeal filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan, noting that part of the judgment required her to pay a ₦5 million fine and issue a public apology via two national newspapers and her verified Facebook page.
“Has she complied with these specific orders? If not, what moral or legal ground does she have to accuse the Senate leadership of non-compliance or illegality?” Harries asked.
“There are procedures for judgment enforcement.
“It is not for an individual to take the law into his or her own hands, create a crisis atmosphere on the pretext of wanting to enforce a judgment,” Harries said.
The lawyer emphasized that legal redress must be pursued through proper channels, urging public figures to lead by example in respecting court processes.
“Equity demands that those who seek justice must also act justly. It’s important that public officials uphold the rule of law, not only in words but in conduct,” Harries said.
Also Reacting to the issue,the immediate past Editor in Chief,News Agency of Nigeria,NAN,Mr Ephrain Shenyin argued that while the lawyer has the right to his or her opinion,”but one must understand that, crude situations lead to crude attempts toward solution.
“Clearly, the law does not allow the senate to suspend a member as that will deny the constituents of the right to representation.
“The Supreme Court clearly established this fact in the case of Sen Ndume.”
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
