Renowned lawyer and rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has strongly condemned the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling it the “height of legislative recklessness.” In a statement released on Sunday, Falana criticized the Nigerian Senate for ignoring multiple court rulings that have consistently declared legislative suspensions illegal.
Despite a Federal High Court order restraining the Senate Ethics Committee from proceeding with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, the Senate went ahead with the action, violating established judicial precedents. Falana called for the immediate reversal of the suspension, emphasizing that in a democracy, legislators must not be silenced based on the whims of powerful figures in the legislative chambers.
Falana’s statement referenced several previous legal victories that have set a precedent against unlawful legislative suspensions. He mentioned the case of Hon. Dino Melaye & 10 Others (2010), where the Federal High Court ruled the suspension of Melaye illegal and ordered the payment of withheld salaries. He also cited the case of Hon. Rifkatu Danna (2012 & 2017), where the suspension by the Bauchi State House of Assembly was nullified by both the State High Court and the Court of Appeal, affirming her constituents’ right to representation.
Further, Falana pointed to the 2018 case of Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin, who was suspended for 180 days after accusing the House of Representatives of budget padding. The Federal High Court nullified his suspension, ordering payment of withheld salaries and allowances. Falana also referred to several other cases, including those involving Senators Ali Ndume (2017), Ovie Omo-Agege (2020), and Sani Iyaku (2020), where courts had declared legislative suspensions illegal.
Falana’s statement highlighted the role of courts in upholding the rule of law in Nigeria. He mentioned the 2020 decision by the Court of Appeal to reinstate suspended lawmakers in Ondo State, as well as rulings from Lokoja and the National Industrial Court, which nullified suspensions in Kogi and Edo State assemblies.
“The illegal suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan should be lifted without delay,” Falana urged, stressing that the Senate should have adhered to the Federal High Court’s order to stay action on the matter. He also warned against the growing trend of suspending elected legislators at the whim of political leaders, stressing that such impunity must not continue in Nigeria.