The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has ordered President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to immediately obey court order and make sure that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is smoothly returned to the Senate “today or any other day of her choosing”.
This is coming after Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered that Senator Natasha, representing Kogi Central, should be recalled to the Senate; an order that has been praised by former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
SERAP said, Senator Natasha should never have been slammed with the suspension in the first place, describing her suspension as “a grave violation of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]”.
After her sexual harassment allegations against Godswill Akpabio, Senator Natasha was handed a six-month suspension by the Ethics Committee of the Senate.
SERAP Posted on X: “Senate President, Godswill Akpabio must immediately obey court order and ensure a smooth return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate today or any other day of her choosing.
“She should never have been suspended in the first place. Her suspension is a grave violation of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and international human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.
“The Senate leadership must immediately obey court order, reinstate Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and fully restore all her legislative rights, entitlements, and privileges.
“The Senate should be setting an example by obeying the court order, upholding the rule of law and protecting the integrity of the country’s legal system.
“A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had, on Friday, nullified the six-month suspension slammed on Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate.”
