Falana condemns Natasha’s suspension, tells lawmakers to respect legal precedents and protect democratic principles
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Human rights fighter Femi Falana SAN, has condemned the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Centra), describing it as the height of legislative recklessness under the watch of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Falana criticised the Senate for violating multiple court rulings that have consistently declared legislative suspensions illegal.
He said despite a Federal High Court order restraining the Senate Ethics Committee from proceeding against Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Chamber went ahead with the suspension – largely because she alleged that Akpabio sexually harassed her.
Natasha alleged that Akpabio made sexual advances at her on three separate occasions over two year – at his home in Akwa Ibom in 2023, at his home in Abuja in 2024, and in his Senate office in Abuja in 2024, per the petition she resubmitted to the Senate last Thursday.
Her petition was first rejected on March 5 for not following due process but she resubmitted it the following day following due process and was accepted at Senate plenary.
Natasha alleged that her refusal to yield to Akpabio’s abuse of office and demands for sexual favours have since made him to reject motions tabled by her in the Senate on multiple occasions.
She has also reportedly said her evidence against Akpabio includes implicating telephone conversations between them which can be retrieved from the archive of telecom carrier MTN.
Falana demanded an immediate reversal of her suspension, warning that silencing legislators at the discretion of powerful figures in the Senate sets a dangerous precedent.
“The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is the height of legislative recklessness. The illegal suspension should be lifted without any further delay,” Falana advocated in a statement.
He listed a series of past legal battles where the courts nullified legislative suspensions as follows:
Dino Melaye & 10 Others (2010): The Federal High Court ruled the suspension illegal and ordered payment of withheld salaries.
Rifkatu Danna (2012 & 2017): Her suspension by the Bauchi State House of Assembly was overturned by both the State High Court and Court of Appeal.
Abdulmumin Jibrin (2018): Suspended for 180 days for exposing budget padding but later reinstated by the Federal High Court.
Ali Ndume (2017): The court ruled his suspension unlawful and unconstitutional.
Ovie Omo-Agege (2020): His suspension was annulled by the Federal High Court.
Abdul Ningi (March 2024): Suspended for alleging budget padding, but later recalled after legal intervention.
Falana insisted that the decision of the Senate to suspend Natasha despite a court order is a violation of the rule of law.
“Since the Federal High Court had restrained the Senate Ethics Committee from hearing the complaint against the embattled Senator, the Senate ought to have stayed action in accordance with the rule of law,” he stressed.
He sought an end to arbitrary suspensions, urging lawmakers to respect legal precedents and protect democratic principles.
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