The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Nigerian Senate to permit Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume her legislative duties, asserting that her ongoing suspension is unconstitutional.
SERAP made the demand in a statement issued on Tuesday in reaction to the Senate’s refusal to address Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
“Senate President Mr Godswill Akpabio and Nigeria’s Senate must immediately allow Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume her legislative duties as indicated in her letter to the clerk of the National Assembly,” the statement read.
The group warned against using court cases as justification for barring the Kogi lawmaker from returning to her seat.
“The Senate cannot use the pending case(s) in court as a pretext to prevent Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming legislative duties. This is antithetical to the fundamental notion of the rule of law,” SERAP stated.
It added, “There is no law in Nigeria that prevents the resumption of her legislative duties pending the hearing and determination of the case(s) in court. This travesty of justice must end.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March, and the suspension has since elapsed this month.
However, SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Clerk to the National Assembly told Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan that her suspension from the Senate could not be addressed until the judicial process was concluded and formally reviewed.
In a letter dated September 4, signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, it was claimed that the issue of her suspension remained subjudice.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had written to the Clerk on August 28, notifying the Senate of the expiration of her six-month suspension period.
She requested access to her office and facilities.
She reminded the Clerk that despite the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on July 4, 2025, which held that “my suspension was excessive and unconstitutional, subsequently directing the senate to recall me to resume my legislative duties, I was denied entry into the National Assembly complex on the 21st day of July, 2025 on the grounds that the Senate President filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal against my resumption.
“I write to formally notify you on my decision to resume my legislative function upon the expiration of the suspension period.”
The human rights advocacy group further demanded that the Senate pay her salary and allowances withheld during the suspension.
“No one should ever be punished for ‘speaking without permission’. Being a senator does not deprive Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights,” he said.
SERAP added, “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.”
