SERAP urges Senate to end Akpoti-Uduaghan suspension, calling it a violation of her rights and rule of law
Akpoti-Uduaghan suspension controversy deepened on Tuesday as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to immediately reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
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The senator, who represents Kogi Central, had written to the Clerk of the National Assembly notifying him of her intent to resume legislative duties after serving a six-month suspension.
However, the Senate insists that her suspension remains in force due to an ongoing legal appeal filed by the senator.
In a strongly worded statement released via Facebook, SERAP described the Akpoti-Uduaghan suspension as a “travesty of justice” and a “blatant disregard for the rule of law.”
The group stressed that no Nigerian law bars a suspended senator from resuming duties due to a pending court case.
“The Senate must not use the existence of a case in court as a pretext to continue to deny her her legislative rights,” the group said.
SERAP also demanded that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s salaries and allowances for the period of her suspension be paid in full.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, after a confrontation with Senate President Akpabio over sitting arrangements during a session.
The six-month penalty was widely viewed as disproportionate, especially considering that the disagreement did not involve a breach of Senate rules or national law.
In a letter dated September 4, the Clerk of the National Assembly acknowledged receipt of her notification to resume on the same date, which marked the end of the six-month suspension period.
Yet, the Senate maintained that her return would have to wait pending the outcome of the Court of Appeal.
SERAP accused the Senate of punishing Akpoti-Uduaghan simply for speaking out, adding that such action violates both the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights treaties.
“No one should ever be punished for ‘speaking without permission’. Being a senator does not deprive her of her fundamental human rights,” the statement read.
The group cited Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which protect freedom of speech and political participation.
The Akpoti-Uduaghan suspension has become a flashpoint in debates around legislative accountability and freedom of expression in Nigeria.
Critics argue that the Senate is overreaching by keeping her out of office without clear constitutional grounds.
“This is not just about one senator — it’s about the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy,” said a rights analyst familiar with the case.
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SERAP concluded by urging the National Assembly to “set an example” by upholding the rule of law rather than suppressing it.
Source: Read more at tvcnews.tv
