Falana Faults Senate for Ignoring Court Order in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticized the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing it as an act of legislative recklessness.
In a statement on Sunday, Falana accused the Nigerian Senate of disregarding multiple court rulings that have consistently declared legislative suspensions illegal. He noted that despite a Federal High Court order restraining the Senate Ethics Committee from taking action against Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senate proceeded with the suspension.
He called for an immediate reversal of the decision, warning that silencing lawmakers at the discretion of Senate leaders posed a threat to democracy.
“The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is the height of legislative recklessness. The illegal suspension should be lifted without any further delay,” he said.
Falana cited several past cases where Nigerian courts overturned legislative suspensions, including those of Dino Melaye in 2010, Rifkatu Danna in 2012 and 2017, Abdulmumin Jibrin in 2018, Ali Ndume in 2017, Ovie Omo-Agege in 2020, and Abdul Ningi in March 2024.
He maintained that the Senate’s decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan despite a court order violated the rule of law and called on lawmakers to uphold judicial rulings.
“Since the Federal High Court had restrained the Senate Ethics Committee from hearing the complaint against the embattled senator, the Senate ought to have stayed action in accordance with the rule of law,” he said.
Falana urged the National Assembly to put an end to arbitrary suspensions and respect democratic principles.
