Obey Court Order On Senator Natasha, SERAP Tells Akpabio

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to immediately comply with a Federal High Court ruling by reinstating Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to her seat in the National Assembly.

In a statement shared via its official X handle on Tuesday, SERAP condemned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, describing it as a serious breach of Nigeria’s constitution and the country’s international human rights commitments.

“Senate President Godswill Akpabio must immediately obey the court order and facilitate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the Senate—whether today or any day of her choosing,” SERAP said.

“She should never have been suspended in the first place. Her suspension is a grave violation of the 1999 Constitution [as amended] and international treaties Nigeria is bound by,” the group added.

SERAP called for the immediate restoration of all her legislative rights, entitlements, and privileges, stating that obedience to the court ruling would affirm the Senate’s commitment to the rule of law.

“The Senate should be leading by example, respecting judicial decisions, upholding constitutional values, and protecting the credibility of Nigeria’s legal framework,” it added.

Recall that Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja, in a judgement, nullified Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension imposed. The court ruled that the suspension was unconstitutional and violated due process.

The judge criticised the Senate for relying on Chapter 8 of its Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, both of which the court deemed overreaching and lacking clear limits on the duration of suspensions.

Justice Nyako stressed that with only 181 sitting days in a legislative year, a six-month suspension effectively sidelines a senator for nearly the entire session and denies constituents their right to representation.

While affirming the Senate’s authority to discipline members, the court emphasised that such actions must not be disproportionate or infringe on the democratic rights of her constituents.

Obey Court Order On Senator Natasha, SERAP Tells Akpabio is first published on The Whistler Newspaper