Akpabio can’t use court case as pretext to block Natasha’s resumption, says SERAP
The Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has kicked against the decision of the Senate in using pending court cases to prevent Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming legislative duties.
According to SERAP, the action of the Senate is antithetical to the fundamental notion of the rule of law.
A statement posted on the X handle of SERAP says it is a travesty of justice to deny Natasha from resumption of her legislative duties, arguing that no law in Nigeria prevents her from doing so.
The statement reads in part: “Mr Godswill Akpabio and the Senate must immediately honour Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s letter notifying the clerk to the national assembly of her intention to resume on September 4, the date she said marked the end of her six-month suspension.
“The Senate should not continue to punish Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for the peaceful exercise of her constitutionally and internationally recognized right to freedom of expression.
“The Senate must allow her to resume her legislative duties and pay her salary and allowances for the duration of the suspension.
“Preventing her to resume her legislative duties is a blatant disregard of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.
“No one should ever be punished for ‘speaking without permission’. Being a senator does not deprive Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights.
“The Senate should be setting an example by upholding the rule of law and promoting and protecting fundamental human rights, not stamping them out.
“A higher degree of tolerance is expected when it is a political speech and an even higher threshold is required when it is directed towards government officials including members of the Senate.”
