Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan will fight the six-month suspension imposed on her following a disagreement with Senate President Godswill Akpabio about seating arrangements in the red chamber.
Victor Giwa, the Kogi lawmaker’s legal counsel, said the Senate resolution violated a court order.
Giwa spoke reporters on Thursday after Natasha was suspended by the Senate and left the National Assembly building.
Giwa claimed the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges violated a court order that reportedly barred it from taking further action on the subject until the outcome of a move 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 contended that if Natasha had not sought legal assistance, the suspension would have stood.
The lawyer further stated that because a court order clearly directed the Senate to halt disciplinary measures, the decision to suspend her was null and illegal.
Giwa further stated that legal action would be taken against individuals responsible for disobeying the court’s order.
“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.
Speaking on 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 pointed out that the Nigerian Constitution supersedes the Senate Standing Orders, stating that every citizen is entitled 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 issued a six-month unpaid suspension on Natasha for violating its Standing Orders following her allegations of sexual harassment, which Akpabio disputed.
In an earlier interview with Arise Television on February 28, the Kogi senator, who had made news the previous week after a public disagreement with the Senate President over seating arrangements in the Senate, accused Akpabio of making sexual approaches on her.
Her sexual harassment allegation was forwarded to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary consideration, which ultimately recommended her suspension.
The Senate passed the resolution after considering and adopting the committee’s report in plenary on Thursday.
Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), the committee’s chairman, presented the findings on the red chamber floor.
The recommendation, signed by all 14 committee members, included seven recommendations against the Kogi Central senator.
The committee found her guilty of all claims against her since she did not appear at the investigative hearing to defend herself.
In its recommendations, it urged that Natasha’s six-month suspension be lowered only if she formally apologizes to the Senate President for her outburst at last week’s plenary session.
As part of the suspension, the legislator’s salary and security details will be withdrawn, and her office will be shut, but her legislative aides will be paid during the period.
Meanwhile, the Senate rejected the Imasuen-led committee’s request for an apology, stating it would only be considered at the end of the six-month ban.
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 hand 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.”
