By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sued Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to court, over the failure to reverse the suspension of the senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The organisation claimed that the purported suspension of the lawmaker is based solely on the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression.
Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan was recently suspended by the Senate for six months after she allegedly refused to take her new place in the Senate chamber and spoke without authorization.
She has reportedly been prohibited from identifying herself as a senator and her pay and benefits have been withdrawn for the duration of the suspension.
However, in a lawsuit submitted last Friday to the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is requesting a mandamus order to order Akpabio to reinstate Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, revoke the illegal suspension, and fully restore all of her legislative rights, privileges, and entitlements.
The rights group is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Senate from further suspending or taking any disciplinary action against Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for the peaceful exercise of her fundamental human rights.
It is demanding a declaration that the application of Sections 6(1)(2) of the Senate Rules and the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended) to suspend Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan violates her human rights and deprives her constituents of their right to political participation.
In the suit, SERAP, argued that granting the application would serve the public interest and promote respect for the rights of everyone in the National Assembly.
It further argued that no one should ever be punished for speaking without permission, adding that being a senator does not deprive Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights.
Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.