Thursday’s decision of the Senate to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged misconduct came under intense scrutiny and censure across the country yesterday.

Critics, citing previous court judgments on similar suspensions, said neither the Senate nor the House of Representatives has power to suspend any of its members for more than 14 days.

Such cases were those involving Senators Ali Ndume and Ovie Omo-Agege and former members of the House of Representatives Dino Melaye and Abdulmumini Jibrin.

Women Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim yesterday offered to interface with the Senate on the Akpoti-Uduaghan’s matter with a view to seeking an amicable resolution.

She described the sexual harassment allegations that led to the senator’s suspension as unfortunate and said such incidents should have no place in the National Assembly.

“It is not a good thing to lose more women in the National Assembly at a time when we are already grossly underrepresented,” the minister told reporters at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

She stressed the need for greater cooperation between male and female lawmakers, adding that women in politics should be sensitized and encouraged to collaborate effectively.

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She called for accelerated efforts to boost women’s representation in governance, insisting that they must have a stronger voice in decision-making.

Asked why her ministry had not spoken on the Senate sexual harassment incident, she said: “It’s an unfortunate incident that should not happen. Just like you rightly said, in the last assembly, we had nine senators that are women. This Assembly, we have four.

“We don’t want to be losing any member in the Senate or House of Assembly. We want to increase the numbers. It is unfortunate.

“We’re going to be brokering peace. We will engage all the stakeholders to ensure that they temper justice with mercy.

“I was at the National Assembly yesterday at the Senate, where they marked International Women’s Day, and the last thing the President of the Senate said was that ‘we’re open to broker peace.’

“So, we’re going to be intermediary between the two parties to see that we broker for peace to reign and we will continue to also sensitize so that we will like to work better together as women and men.”

She stressed that Nigeria must accelerate efforts to increase women’s representation in governance and ensure they have a seat at the table.

She underscored the critical role of mentorship and economic empowerment in advancing women’s political participation in Nigeria.

“When it comes to moving empowerment, especially in political participation and leadership, it’s very important that we start from the mentoring level,” she stated, emphasising that aspiring leaders must first recognise their qualifications and actively pursue their goals.

It’s violation of rule of law, says Shittu
A senior lawyer, Dr Wahab Shittu (SAN) said the Senate was in breach of the rule of law by suspending the senator in spite of an interim court order issued by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions from proceeding with any disciplinary investigation against her.

“This order was granted following an ex parte application by her legal team, effectively pausing any Senate actions—such as her six‐month suspension until the court can hear her motion on notice,” Shittu said yesterday.

He added: “By suspending her despite the court’s injunction, the Senate may be acting in violation of the rule of law.”

He advised the Senate to “immediately suspend all disciplinary proceedings against Senator Natasha, as mandated by the interim order from the Federal High Court” and said “this compliance would reaffirm the supremacy of judicial authority and prevent further erosion of public trust.”

Shittu also called for an “impartial inquiry into both the sexual harassment allegations and any related misconduct.”

By setting up an independent panel, free from internal conflicts of interest, he said, “the process can yield a fair assessment of the facts without political interference.”

Continuing, he said: “The Senate should review and possibly reform its disciplinary protocols.

“This includes ensuring that any punitive measures, like suspensions, strictly adhere to established rules (for example, not exceeding the 14-day limit outlined in Senate Order 67(4)) and that all parties receive due process.

“To avoid any appearance of bias, those in leadership, especially the Senate President, should consider recusing themselves from deliberations directly connected to these allegations.

“This would allow the matter to be handled by neutral parties and help restore institutional integrity.

“The courtroom will decide whether her suspension stands or falls. The public discourse will decide whether her voice was a cry in the wilderness or the beginning of something greater.

“History, as always, will decide the rest.”

Yusuf: Natasha not first to be sent on suspension
However, Professor of Law, Fassy Yusuf, has a different view on the matter.

He said the suspension was in order.

“The Senate gave a reason for its action, the Senate Committee on Ethics sat, she was expected to appear but she did not appear,” Yusuf told The Nation.

“It shows she does not respect the committee set up to handle her own matter.

“Secondly, we also learnt she did not give the Senate President and the committee the recognition they deserved.

“The respect is that when the Senate President comes in, every member must stand up and give him the recognition he deserves.

“In this case, she did not. Just like when a judge appears in court, all lawyers are expected to rise.”

Prof. Yusuf argued that every institution has its modus operandi of regulating its affairs and the conduct of members, adding that the Senate is no exception.

According to him, “the Red Book represents the Bible and the Quran of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and if a member has transgressed the provision of the Red Book, the sanctions provided for in the Red Book would apply.

“So, the gavel fell on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan this time.

In her own case, she remains intransigent and recalcitrant.”

The Law professor remarked that if Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan likes, she can go to court.

“But I believe she would fail because the Senate has its own laws for conducting its own affairs without recourse to the court.

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“I hope she would stop being a rabble-rouser and concentrate on her job and allow her constituency to enjoy her service.”

Let’s focus on more serious things, not Natasha’s allegations – Agbomhere
The South-South Zonal Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Blessing Agbomhere, dismissed Natasha’s allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio as undeserving of the attention being given to it when there are more pressing issues facing the country.

“President Bola Tinubu has just signed the N54.99 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill into law. What Nigerians should be demanding now is for the executive arm of government—through coordinated oversight from the legislature—to ensure the proper implementation of the budget rather than engaging in attempts to denigrate Nigeria’s legislative institution before the world,” Agbomhere said in a statement.

Agbomhere further noted that as the world marks International Women’s Day, Nigerians should see through the alleged plot against Akpabio, dismissing it as a calculated political manoeuvre rather than a genuine push for justice or gender inclusion.

He also cautioned those working to undermine the Senate President, warning that history has a way of repaying such political betrayals.

Her suspension is illegal, undemocratic, says CISLAC
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) branded Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension as an illegal, unconstitutional move that undermines democracy and legislative independence.

The group, in a statement by its by Executive Director, Awwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), said the senator was not given a fair hearing and wondered why the Red Chambers refused to “dispassionately probe the allegations against Akpabio.”

CISLAC argued that the suspension of an elected senator contradicts Sections 68 and 69 of the 1999 Constitution, which clearly outline the lawful processes for a legislator to lose his seat.

Its words: “Section 68(1) & (2) states that a legislator’s seat can only be declared vacant under specific circumstances such as resignation, defection, conviction, or recall by constituents through the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Section 69 stipulates that the recall process is the only constitutional means for removing an elected legislator, making the Senate’s decision legally baseless.

“By suspending Senator Natasha, CISLAC notes that the Senate has effectively denied the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District their right to representation, an action that constitutes an abuse of power.”

The civil society group recalled past judicial rulings that declared legislative suspensions unlawful.

It referred to Hon. Dino Melaye v House of Representatives (2009) when a Federal High Court ruled that legislative chambers lack the authority to suspend elected members.

It added: “In Ali Ndume v Senate President & Ors (2018), the Court of Appeal nullified the senator’s suspension, reinforcing the principle that lawmakers cannot be arbitrarily removed by their peers.

“Similarly, House of Assembly v Hon. Danna (2003) established that only the judiciary or the electorate have the power to remove an elected official,” it said.

CISLAC accused the Senate of disregarding these precedents and eroding legislative independence by silencing dissenting voices

It demanded the immediate reinstatement of Senator Natasha and urged the Senate to retract its decision and uphold democratic principles and the peaceful resolution of the crisis.

PDP demands Natasha reinstatement, accuses Akpabio of cover-up
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), faulted her suspension which it called a “violation of parliamentary conventions and fair hearing”.

The party said the suspension effectively denies her constituents their right to representation.

The PDP said Senate President Godswill Akpabio should not have presided over a matter in which he is accused.

“The PDP asserts that the action of the Akpabio-led Senate leadership against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan smacks of a desperation to cover up,” PDP’s national publicity secretary,Debo Ologunagba said in a statement.

The PDP said the “hasty suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan without an open investigation into the weighty allegation of sexual harassment against the Senate President not only negates the principle of fair hearing, especially in parliamentary convention, but also portrays the Senate as an institution that endorses, condones and offers protection to reprobacy.

“Also, the excessively harsh six months suspension on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan translates to denying the people of Kogi Central Senatorial Zone their Constitutional right of being represented in the Senate.

“It is scandalous and amounts to gross abuse of office and violation of the fundamentals of justice and fair hearing for Senator Akpabio to sit as a judge in a matter in which he is the accused; a situation which validates public apprehension of a desperation by the embattled Senate President to suppress open legislative probe into the allegation of sexual harassment leveled against him.”

The PDP said Akpabio should step aside and allow an open and impartial investigation into the allegations raised by Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“Given the height of public anxiety on this allegation of sexual harassment which has already escalated into protests at the National Assembly, the PDP urges the Senate to redeem its image and integrity by immediately reinstating Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and ensuring an open investigation into the matter.”

Natasha Akpoti kissing her husband at NASS morally wrong, says Senate spokesperson
Spokesperson of the Senate, Yemi Adaramodu, said yesterday that his stomach churned when he watched clips of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan planting a kiss on her husband before walking into the upper legislative chamber.

Natasha and her spouse Emmanuel Uduaghan had gone to the National Assembly Complex.

Moments before made her way to plenary to submit the sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the couple hugged and had a kiss.

Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme, Adaramodu said the couple’s display of affection, in the full glare of television cameras and a battery of reporters, was “unthinkable and unspeakable”.

Asked if it was wrong for Emmanuel Uduaghan to accompany his wife to the National Assembly in a show of solidarity, Adaramodu asked: “Solidarity over what? Over internal matters in the Senate? It is legal but it’s socially, morally and politically wrong. It doesn’t mean that all legal things are very good for adults to act.

“I said initially that this is an episode of content creation and the content has been created. That is part of the skits of the contents being created by our colleague and then the whole thing is trending.”

The Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2017 set aside the suspension of Ali Ndume by the Senate in April of the same year, declaring it “illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional”.

The court also ordered the then Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Senate to pay Ndume all outstanding salaries and allowances.

The Senate suspended Ndume for not “conducting due diligence” before filing a petition against Saraki and for bringing Senator Melaye, “his colleague, and the institution of the Senate to unbearable disrepute.”

Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi who was suspended on March 12, 2024 for alleging that that year’s budget had been padded to the tune of N3.7trn, was pardoned and recalled two weeks to the end of his three-month suspension.

In December 2010, Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja nullified the June 22, 2010 suspension of Mr. Dino Melaye and other members of the Progressive Group in the House of Representatives.

The court held that the suspension was unlawful, null and illegal.

It said although the National Assembly is empowered to regulate itself by the provision of Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution as well as Section 24 of the legislative houses’ rules the maximum period for the suspension of any member of the legislature as provided is 14 days.

He said the imposition of indefinite suspension on the plaintiffs amounted to arbitrary show of power and the tyranny of the majority.

Similarly, an Abuja Federal High Court in 2028 voided the 180-legislative-day suspension of Abdulmumin Jibrin by the House of Representatives in September 2016.