Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has fiercely condemned the Nigerian Senate’s suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, branding it a direct assault on democratic values and a calculated move to instill fear and silence dissent.
In a statement released on the 6th of March, 2025, Adeyanju, who serves as the managing partner of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, denounced the suspension as “illegal” and criticized the Senate’s approach to handling Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“Even if the allegations made by Natasha are deemed frivolous, the Senate has an obligation to investigate them thoroughly,” Adeyanju asserted.
He maintained that Akpabio who has been accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate remarks should have been given the chance to defend himself before the Senate Ethics Committee, with Akpoti-Uduaghan present to cross-examine him.
Adeyanju further pointed out a glaring conflict of interest, emphasizing that the chairman of the Ethics Committee had publicly defended Akpabio before presiding over the case.
“Akpabio cannot serve as a judge in his own case. For the sake of justice and fairness, he must step aside,” he insisted.
READ ALSO: Power, Gender, and Silence: What Natasha’s Suspension Means for Nigerian Politics
Slamming the lack of due process, Adeyanju highlighted that neither Akpoti-Uduaghan nor Akpabio was given the opportunity to appear before the committee. He likened the handling of the case to the murky irregularities that plague Nigeria’s electoral system, where “results are declared in the dead of night without proper scrutiny.”
Adeyanju urged Akpoti-Uduaghan to challenge her six-month suspension in court, arguing that it robs the people of Kogi Central of their rightful representation.
“The Senate has no right to suspend her,” he declared. “The leadership must not wield its power to silence or intimidate elected representatives.”
Calling on the embattled senator to stand her ground, Adeyanju warned that her suspension sets a troubling precedent not just for women in politics but for all voices advocating change in Nigeria.