Dare Babalola
Amid increased security presence in and around the National Assembly Complex, suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday arrived to resume plenary.
Supporters of the Kogi Central lawmaker converged at the entrance to await her.
There was also an unusual security build-up at the gate of the complex with stern-looking operatives searching cars and restricting visitors to the car park outside the parliament.
The security, comprising operatives of the Department of State Services, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps among others are highly visible at the main gate of the National Assembly, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), annex gate Villa gates into the complex.
The heightened security comes in the wake of a threat by Akpoti-Uduaghan to return to legislative duties amid warnings from the Senate.
Over the weekend, the lawmaker, who was suspended in March, announced that she had formally notified the Senate of her intention to return, citing a recent court decision as her basis.
She told journalists during a constituency training programme that she had already written to the leadership of the Upper Chamber about her intention.
“I will be there, because the court did make the decision on that. Now, they argue that it’s an order, it’s not an order, but it is a decision,” she insisted.
The senator argued that while her suspension didn’t stop her from executing constituency projects, it had obstructed her ability to carry out vital legislative functions like sponsoring bills and moving motions.
