Akpabio Issued Ultimatum To Rescind Natasha’ Suspension

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio to immediately rescind the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate.

SERAP said, “The Senate should immediately reinstate Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, and revise parliamentary procedures that unduly restrict senators’ human rights.”

The Senate last week suspended Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, after she reportedly ‘spoke without permission’ and ‘refused her new seat in the upper legislative chamber.’

Her salary and allowances will not be paid for the duration of the suspension and she was banned from presenting herself as a senator.

In the open letter dated 8 March 2025 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “No one should ever be punished for ‘speaking without permission’.

“Being a senator does not deprive Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights.

“The Senate should be setting an example by upholding the rule of law and promoting and protecting fundamental human rights, not stamping them out.”

According to SERAP, punishing Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for expressing herself is “unlawful, unnecessary and disproportionate.

“Her suspension would also have a disproportionate chilling effect on the ability of other members of the Senate to freely express themselves and exercise their human rights.”

“Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension is based solely on the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression in the Senate.

“All the other grounds cited by the Senate for her suspension seem to be a pretext to further restrict her fundamental human rights.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 48 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel you and the Senate to comply with our requests in the public interest.

“Any application of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 by the Senate must conform with constitutional and international human rights norms and standards relating to freedom of expression and should not jeopardise the right itself.”