Senate Suspension: Adeyanju Urges Natasha To Seek Redress In Court
Deji Adeyanju, a human rights lawyer and activist, has condemned the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti, urging her to seek redress in court.
Recall that Natasha was involved in a heated argument over seat arrangements during a Plenary meeting on February 20. In an interview with Arise TV last Friday, she accused Godswill Akpabio, the senate president of sexual harassment.
In a Facebook post by Deji Adeyanju on Thursday, the human right lawyer condemned the suspension of Akpoti for alleged disrespect of Senate rules.
His statement reads, “Adeyanju condemns suspension of Senator Akpoti, describes it as promoting a culture of silence, urges her to seek redress in Court.
“I am deeply saddened over the illegal suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan by the Nigerian Senate. This act is not only a blatant violation of her rights but also an affront to the very foundation of democratic principles and transparency that our nation purports to uphold.
“Even if the allegations made by Natasha are deemed frivolous, the Senate has an obligation to investigate them thoroughly. Senator Godswill Akpabio, who faces allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate remarks, must be allowed to face the Senate committee. It is imperative that he be given the opportunity to defend himself as well and to cross-examine Senator Natasha. Sweeping these serious allegations under the carpet only serves to perpetuate a culture of silence, and it raises serious questions about the integrity of the Senate’s investigative processes”.
Adeyanju further stated that the chairman of the ethics committee was publicly defending Akpabio days before presiding over the investigation.
His statement further adds, “Furthermore, it is appalling that the chairman of the Ethics Committee, who was publicly defending Akpabio just days before this inquiry, presided over the investigation against Natasha. This is a clear conflict of interest; Akpabio cannot serve as a judge in his own matter. For the sake of justice and fairness, he must step aside to allow the Ethics Committee to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations against him.
“It is unacceptable that neither Senator Natasha nor Akpabio were allowed to appear before the committee for a proper investigation. This lack of due process mirrors the troubling practices we see in our electoral system, where results are declared in the dead of night without proper scrutiny. The absence of a fair investigation and the rush to conclusions send a dangerous message to our youth, teaching them that accountability and integrity are negotiable.
“I call on my dear sister and friend, Senator Natasha to challenge her illegal suspension in court. I must also encourage her that her challenges are not new as women who seek change these challenges daily in the corridors of power and even in religious places of worship. By suspending Natasha for six months, the people of Kogi Central are being denied proper representatio. She must resist the attempts to silence, bully, harass, and intimidate her.
“The Senate has no right to suspend her; the very same democratic process that brought many of its members to power is the same process through which Natasha was elected. The Senate leadership is merely first among equals and must not wield this power to undermine the representation of the people”.
Senate Suspension: Adeyanju Urges Natasha To Seek Redress In Court is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
