The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to promptly comply with a Federal High Court ruling by reinstating Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, whose suspension has been deemed unconstitutional.
In a strongly worded statement shared via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the civic group described the suspension as a “grave violation” of both the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and international human rights commitments.
“Senate President Godswill Akpabio must immediately obey court order and ensure a smooth return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate today or any other day of her choosing,” SERAP declared.
The organization emphasized that the senator’s suspension should never have occurred, calling it a breach of democratic norms and due process.
SERAP further demanded that all of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legislative rights, entitlements, and privileges be fully restored.
“The Senate should be setting an example by obeying the court order, upholding the rule of law and protecting the integrity of the country’s legal system,” the statement read.
This follows a landmark judgment delivered last Friday by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
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The court nullified the six-month suspension placed on the Kogi lawmaker, ruling that it lacked constitutional backing and due process.
Justice Nyako’s decision struck down both Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers & Privileges) Act as being overreaching and ambiguous, particularly for failing to define a maximum suspension period.
Highlighting the practical implication of the suspension, the court observed that with the Senate constitutionally required to sit only 181 days per session, a six-month suspension effectively silenced the senator for nearly an entire legislative year — an action the court described as “excessive.”
While the Senate retains the authority to discipline its members, the court insisted that such actions must not come at the cost of disenfranchising the people those lawmakers represent.
As public pressure mounts, it remains to be seen whether Senate President Akpabio will heed SERAP’s call and the court’s directive.
Political analysts suggest that continued defiance could fuel further legal and civic pushback and raise questions about the legislature’s commitment to democratic values.