Former National Assembly member for Lagos East Constituency, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has strongly contested Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s authority to order the withdrawal of Senator Natasha Akpoti’s security detail.
During an Arise TV interview, he characterized the action as an overreach of power, stating, “It is clear that you’ve gone outside your power and authority. You cannot strip the lady, the distinguished senator, from being a senator; it is not possible. The senator was voted for under the Nigerian Constitution, and you are a minority. The majority is her constituency that voted for her.”
He specifically challenged multiple punitive measures imposed on Sen Natasha, saying, “How can you say they should not pay her salary? You are not the one determining her salary; it’s the Revenue Mobilization and Allocation Commission that determines the salary of a senator. How does that one become your responsibility to say you will not be paid, where constitutionally, there is, under Section 111, a commission that is responsible for the provision of payment to Senators?”
Regarding security withdrawal, he noted, “You said they should withdraw her security; you are not the IGP that is responsible for deploying policemen to Senators. So, these things they have done, honestly, they did it in a hurry. They should sit down and address it and make necessary adjustments.”
This position echoes concerns previously raised by former Senate President Ahmad Lawan, who reportedly argued on the Senate floor that the Senate lacks authority to remove Natasha’s security as she remains a constitutionally recognized Senator despite her suspension. Senate President Akpabio dismissed this argument, claiming Akpoti’s suspension effectively nullified her senatorial status.
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