The Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, will challenge in court the six-month suspension slammed on her following her face-off with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over seating arrangements in the red chamber.
The legal counsel to the Kogi lawmaker, Victor Giwa, dismissed the Senate resolution as a violation of a court order.
Giwa spoke on Thursday after the Kogi lawmaker was suspended by the senate and walked out from the National Assembly complex.
The Nigerian Bar Association and opposition parties similarly berated the red chamber for not giving Akpoti-Uduaghan ample time to present her sexual harassment complaint against Akpabio.
Giwa said the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges acted in violation of a court order that allegedly restrained it from taking further action on the matter pending the determination of a motion on notice.
“The suspension is void, it cannot even take any effect. The suspension is illegal because there is a court order that restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from taking further action.
‘’The committee disobeyed a valid court order that was served on them, making a mockery of the chamber that is supposed to uphold the law,” Giwa said.
He argued that if Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had not sought legal intervention, the suspension might have stood.
The lawyer also expressed conviction that with a court order explicitly directing the Senate to halt disciplinary actions, the decision to suspend her was null and void.
Giwa further revealed that legal action would be taken against those responsible for violating the court’s directive.
“We are going back to court. The case is coming up in about two weeks, and we will inform the court that despite being served, including the Senate President, they still acted in violation of the order by suspending the plaintiff,” he stated.
When asked if there were plans to escalate the matter to international organizations, Giwa said, “For now, we are handling it locally. But, of course, the world is watching. The Senate must adhere to international best practices, which dictate that once a case is in court, no further action should be taken on it.”
He highlighted that the Nigerian Constitution supersedes the Senate Standing Orders, stating that every citizen had the right to seek redress in court when their civil rights are breached.
“Section 6, subsection 6 of the Constitution grants every citizen the right to seek redress when their civil rights are violated. Senator Natasha has done exactly that. Her suspension is an attempt to silence her for alleging wrongdoing against the Senate President, which amounts to a breach of her right to a fair hearing,” he added.
The Senate imposed a six-month suspension on the lawmaker without pay over what it called the breach of its Standing Orders following her claim of sexual harassment, an allegation that Akpabio denied.
In an earlier interview with Arise Television on February 28, the Kogi senator, who made headlines the previous week after a public dispute with the Senate President over seating arrangements in the Senate, accused Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her.
Her sexual harassment complaint was referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review, which later recommended her suspension.
The resolution of the Senate followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the committee during plenary on Thursday.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South) presented the report on the floor of the red chamber.
The report, signed by all 14 members of the committee, offered seven recommendations against the Kogi Central senator.
The committee found her guilty of all allegations against her as she did not attend the investigative hearing to defend herself.
In its recommendations, it proposed that Akpoti-Uduaghan may have the six-month suspension reduced only if she tenders a formal apology to the Senate President for her outburst during last week’s plenary session.
As part of the suspension, the legislator’s salary and security details will be withdraw and her office locked but her legislative aides would receive their remuneration throughout the period.
Meanwhile, the Senate rejected the Imasuen-led committee’s recommendation of an apology, saying such would only be entertained at the end of the six-month suspension.
The seven-point recommendations by Imasuen read, “One, that the Senate do suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for her total violation of Senate standing rules, bringing the presiding officer and the entire Senate to public opprobrium.
“Two, that for the Senate to consider lifting or reducing the duration of the suspension, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan shall submit a written apology to the Senate before reconsideration.
‘’Three, that the Senate suspend Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan with effect from March 6, 2025, from all legislative activities.
“Four, that her office be locked up for the duration of her suspension and that she hands over all Senate properties in her possession to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
“Five, that for the duration of her suspension, she must not be seen within the vicinity of the Senate or the National Assembly, including her staff.
“Six, that her salaries and allowances, including those of her legislative aides, be suspended, and that all security details assigned to her be withdrawn for the period of her suspension.
“Seven, that during her suspension, she be barred from representing herself locally and internationally as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Whip, others commend panel
In his contribution, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Tahir Monguno; Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro; and Senators Jimoh Ibrahim, Sunday Karimi, Francis Fadahunsi, Mohammed Dandutse, Cyril Fasuyi, and Adams Oshiomhole commended the committee for a job well done.
This is just as they condemned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s disobedience of the Senate Rules, which in their opinion, brought the law-making body into disrepute.
They called for the enforcement of the sanctions, arguing that anything short of that would lay a dangerous precedent for the parliament.
On his part, Senator Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North) sought the protection of the aides of the embattled lawmaker as he called for the amendment of the prayer concerning them.
Kalu said, “We cannot punish the aides of Senator Natasha for an offence they did not commit. They are staff of the National Assembly and they have no other farm or means of livelihood apart from the salaries they earn from the Senate.
“As such, it would be wrong for us as a Senate to deny them and their families their salaries. I move that we should please amend that recommendation and allow them to earn their salaries.”
The Senate agreed with Kalu’s suggestion and saved the Kogi Senator’s aides from losing their salaries for six months.
In a debate featuring lawmakers elected on the platforms of different political parties, the Senate adopted all the recommendations, albeit with an amendment to prayer six, allowing the Kogi lawmaker’s aide to draw their salaries and allowances during the suspension period.
Effort by a former president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, to stop the red chamber from withdrawing the security aides of the suspended senator failed as the Senate President rejected it.
After the adoption of the report, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan briefly interrupted the proceedings.
She said, “This injustice against me will not be sustained. I will fight against it.”
The Kogi politician was, thereafter, escorted out of the chamber by the Sergeant-At-Arms personnel in the chamber.
She rebuffed efforts by journalists to speak with her as she drove away in her black Sports Utility Vehicle.
Earlier before her suspension, she had resubmitted a sexual harassment petition against Senator Akpabio during plenary, this time, on behalf of her constituents, led by one Zubairu Yakubu.
After confirming there were no legal barriers, Akpabio directed her to lay the petition before the Senate.
Her petition was then referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Imasuen with a mandate to report back within four weeks.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
