A senior legal practitioner, Ken Harries, has faulted the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over what he described as a contradictory and unlawful attempt to enforce a judgment she had already appealed.
Harries’ reaction comes on the heels of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s controversial appearance at the National Assembly on Tuesday, where she attempted to assert that a recent Federal High Court judgment had ordered her reinstatement. Her dramatic entry, accompanied by a group of supporters, sparked concern among legal minds and institutional observers.
“In all my years of legal practice, I’ve never seen such a blatant abuse of judicial process by a supposed federal lawmaker,” Harries said. “You cannot appeal a judgment and simultaneously try to enforce it. That’s not just improper; it is lawless.”
The lawyer noted that Akpoti-Uduaghan, dissatisfied with the Federal High Court ruling of July 4, had filed an appeal seeking to overturn the decision. “You either accept the judgment and comply, or reject it and challenge it at the appellate level — you can’t do both,” Harries explained.
He questioned the moral standing of the embattled lawmaker, pointing out that she had yet to comply with several court directives in the same judgment she now claims to enforce. “Has she paid the N5 million penalty imposed by the court? Has she published the mandatory public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page, as ordered?”
Beyond the legal contradiction, Harries raised alarm over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s use of a defunct Senate committee letterhead, one she no longer has any authority over to communicate with law enforcement. “That’s not just misleading; it borders on forgery and impersonation, both of which are criminal offences,” he said.
Observers have also accused the suspended Senator of sedition and incitement following her public remarks during the visit, which have since gone viral. “Her speech, her conduct, and the overall disruption she caused are clear threats to public peace and institutional integrity,” a concerned source noted.
Critics argue that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent behavior shows disregard for both legal norms and democratic institutions, and warn that failure to act may encourage further infractions by others. “This cannot be allowed to fester. Nigeria is not a banana republic. No one is above the law,” Harries asserted.
He called on law enforcement agencies to perform their constitutional duties without fear or favor. “Sentiments or political affiliations must not deter justice. If left unchecked, this behavior sets a dangerous precedent. It’s time to restore order and reaffirm the sanctity of the rule of law.”
The Federal Government, National Assembly leadership, and security agencies have so far remained restrained in response, but Harries and other legal voices warn that continued silence could embolden lawlessness.
“The law must act and swiftly,” he said. “Otherwise, we risk turning justice into theatre.”.
