A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Michael Jonathan Numa, has given the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana a five-day ultimatum to facilitate suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resumption at the Senate.
Ogunlana has to begin the process or face legal action for contempt and other constitutional breaches in both his personal and official capacity.
Numa of M.J. Numa & Partners LP made this threat in his reply to a letter by the CNA to Akpoti-Uduaghan, in which he told her that despite the expiration of her six months suspension, she cannot resume legislative duties because of the pendency of her case before the Court of Appeal.
Numa, who said he was acting as counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, said the CNA’s action amounts to delayed tactics to deny her client access to her office to resume her legislative duties.
He said: “Assuming without conceding that the suspension was valid, it was imposed for a fixed term of six months commencing on 6th March 2025.
“That term expired on or about 6th September 2025. At that point, the Senate became functus officio and lost any power to extend, enlarge, or reinvent the punishment.
“Any attempt to prevent her resumption beyond the expiry of the penalty, amounts to punishing her twice for the same alleged misconduct.
“As Clerk to the National Assembly, you are not an elected member of the Senate. Your functions are purely ministerial: to record, transmit, and implement decisions duly made by the Senate or directed by the courts.
“To the best of our client’s knowledge, no Senate resolution exists extending our client’s suspension or imposing any new sanction from the same alleged misconduct.
“Your letter fails to disclose on whose directive you purported to act. By assuming powers you do not possess, you have acted ultra vires, and placed both yourself personally and your office in contempt of the Constitution and binding judicial orders.
“In light of the foregoing, we hereby demand that you immediately facilitate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s resumption of her legislative duties without further obstruction.
“Take notice that failure to comply by Monday, 15th September 2025, will leave us with no alternative but to initiate proceedings against you personally and in your official capacity.
“Such proceedings will include, but are not limited to: Committal for contempt;
Disciplinary action for breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers; Liability for instigating breach of the peace with potential implications for national security; and any other remedies available to our client under the law.
“We strongly advise that you reconsider your untenable stance and comply with the Constitution and extant judicial orders.”
