No More Delays! SERAP Demands Immediate Return Of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called for the immediate reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following a ruling by the Federal High Court that invalidated her six-month suspension from the National Assembly.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement shared via its official (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, SERAP condemned the suspension, labeling it a serious breach of the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights commitments. The organisation urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to comply without delay and honor the court’s verdict.

“Senate President Godswill Akpabio must promptly obey the court’s decision and facilitate the return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate—either today or on any date she chooses,” SERAP stated.

The group described the Senate’s disciplinary action as not only unjustified but also unconstitutional.

“Her suspension should never have occurred. It stands as a flagrant violation of the 1999 Constitution [as amended] and Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights law,” SERAP noted.

SERAP also demanded that the Senate fully restore Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legislative rights, entitlements, and privileges.

Recall that Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, in a ruling last Friday, declared the Senate’s action unconstitutional, excessive, and an infringement on the senator’s rights as an elected official.

The court criticized the Senate’s use of Chapter 8 of its Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers & Privileges) Act, stating that neither provided clear legal boundaries for the length of legislative suspensions.

Justice Nyako noted that since the National Assembly sits for only 181 days annually, a six-month suspension effectively silenced the voice of Kogi Central constituents for nearly an entire session.

“While the Senate holds the authority to discipline its members, any such sanction must not be so extreme that it denies the electorate their right to representation,” the court declared.

In closing, SERAP called on the Senate to set a precedent by respecting court rulings and reaffirming its commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law.

“The Senate must lead by example by adhering to judicial orders, upholding the rule of law, and defending the legitimacy of Nigeria’s legal framework,” the group asserted.