A Senior Lawyer, Ken Harris, has criticised suspended Senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for attempting to enforce a judgment she has already appealed, describing her actions as an attempt to “eat her cake and still have it”.
Harries made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday while reacting to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s presence at the National Assembly on Tuesday, where she reportedly attempted to enforce the July 4 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had ordered her recall.
He questioned whether her conduct, which he termed “taking the law into her own hands,” was an appropriate or lawful way to enforce a court ruling.
“In all my years of legal practice, I’ve never seen such a blatant display of lawlessness from someone who is supposed to be a federal lawmaker.
“How do you storm the National Assembly with a group of partisans under the guise of enforcing a judgment?”
“There are proper legal procedures for enforcing court judgments. It is not for individuals to create a crisis atmosphere and claim they are enforcing the law,” he added.
Harries pointed out that Akpoti-Uduaghan had already filed an appeal against the same judgment about a week earlier, in which she challenged its validity and asked the Court of Appeal to overturn it.
He questioned the logic of her actions: “How can you seek to enforce a judgment you have openly rejected, appealed against, and asked to be set aside?
“Even if the judgment was still valid and enforceable, has she complied with all the orders contained in it, including the payment of N5 million and a public apology published in two newspapers and on her Facebook page?
“If she has failed to obey those aspects of the judgment, on what moral ground does she accuse the Senate leadership of lawlessness?” Harries asked.
He concluded by urging her legal team to properly advise her on upholding the rule of law.
“Anyone who seeks equity must come with clean hands,” the lawyer said.
