The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sued the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over the failure to reverse the patently unlawful suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying the purported suspension is based solely on the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression.
It could be recalled that the Senate recently suspended
Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months after she reportedly spoke without permission
and refused her new seat in the Senate chamber.
Her salary and allowances are said to have also been
withheld for the duration of the suspension, and she has been barred from
identifying herself as a senator.
However, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/498/2025, filed last
Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus
to direct and compel Akpabio to rescind the unlawful suspension of Natasha
Akpoti-Uduaghan, reinstate her, and fully restore all her legislative rights,
entitlements, and privileges.
It is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction
restraining the Senate from further suspending or taking any disciplinary
action against Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for the peaceful exercise of
her fundamental human rights.
The rights group is demanding a declaration that the
application of Sections 6(1)(2) of the Senate Rules and the Senate Standing
Orders 2023 (as amended) to suspend Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan violates her human
rights and deprives her constituents of their right to political participation.
The rights group, in the suit, argued that granting the application
would serve the public interest and promote respect for the rights of everyone
in the National Assembly.
It further argued that no one should ever be punished for
speaking without permission, adding that being a senator does not deprive
Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights.
It said that the Senate should be setting an example by
upholding the rule of law and promoting and protecting human rights, not
stamping them out.
According to SERAP, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension is based
solely on the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression in the
Senate, stressing that all the other grounds cited by the Senate for her
suspension seem to be a pretext to further restrict her fundamental human
rights.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
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