“Nobody Can Recall Natasha,” Says Senator Abbo, Gives Reasons

Former Senator representing Adamawa North, Elisha Ishaku Abbo, has asserted that there is no possibility of recalling Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Senator from Kogi Central, from the 10th Senate. Abbo made this statement during an interview on Arise News on the night of April 2, where he criticized the Senate’s handling of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of political bias and misconduct.

Abbo condemned the manner in which Akpabio managed Natasha’s suspension, claiming that it was “unfair” and highlighting the contrast between Akpabio’s current actions and his past conduct during the 8th Senate. He recalled how Akpabio had previously resolved a dispute with then Senate President Bukola Saraki in a manner he described as “mature.”

However, Abbo argued that Akpabio’s treatment of Natasha was different, accusing him of acting with a sense of superiority. He criticized Akpabio for allegedly suspending Natasha for six months, withdrawing her security, halting her salary, barring her from the National Assembly, and ordering the Inspector General of Police to deny her security. Abbo described these actions as dangerous, claiming that withdrawing her security put her life at risk.

“If you withdraw somebody’s security, you are exposing them to be killed,” Abbo stated, suggesting that the police chief eventually realized the gravity of the situation and reversed the order. He questioned the legality of the suspension and drew a comparison between Natasha’s situation and Akpabio’s earlier actions in the Senate, particularly questioning why Akpabio had not been suspended for a similar issue in the past.

Abbo also addressed a court injunction obtained by Natasha, which barred the Senate from investigating her alleged misconduct until the case was properly heard. He alleged that the Senate had ignored the court order, describing their actions as “contempt of court.” According to Abbo, after suspending Natasha, the Senate sought to vacate the injunction in court, but he criticized the judge for not taking stronger action against Akpabio.

Finally, Abbo dismissed any rumors about a potential recall of Natasha from the Senate, calling it a fraudulent scheme. He stated with certainty that Natasha could not be recalled and urged that the public should not be swayed by what he referred to as forged signatures. “We are not a banana republic,” Abbo emphasized, asserting that Natasha should continue her work undeterred.