The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called for the urgent reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following a Federal High Court decision that declared her six-month suspension from the Senate unconstitutional.
In a statement released on its official X platform Tuesday, SERAP characterized the suspension as a serious breach of Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights standards, demanding that Senate President Godswill Akpabio comply with the court’s ruling.
“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,” SERAP declared.
The rights organization strongly criticized the Senate’s original decision to suspend the lawmaker, arguing that the action was both unconstitutional and without justification from the outset.
“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,” SERAP stated.
The organization has demanded that Senate leadership not only reinstate Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan but also fully restore all her legislative rights, entitlements, and privileges.
The call comes after Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on Friday that the Senate’s action against the Kogi Central representative was unconstitutional, excessive, and violated her rights as an elected official.
Justice Nyako’s ruling specifically challenged Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act, finding that both provisions failed to establish clear limitations on suspension duration for lawmakers.
The court determined that with only 181 sitting days in a legislative year, a six-month suspension would effectively prevent Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from performing her duties for almost the entire session, thereby denying her constituents proper representation.
“Though the Senate has the power to discipline its members, such punishment must not be so excessive as to deny constituents their right to representation,” Justice Nyako ruled.
SERAP emphasized that the Senate should demonstrate leadership by fully complying with judicial decisions to protect Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“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,” the organization stressed.
