Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has threatened the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, with legal action if he fails to rescind the “unlawful” suspension of his fellow senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), since the suspension was based solely on the exercise of her constitutionally and internationally recognised right to freedom of expression.
The Senate, last week, suspended 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 may not be paid for the duration of the suspension and she was banned from presenting herself as a senator.
In an open letter signed by the Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, at the weekend, SERAP said 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. SERAP said: “The Senate should be setting an example by upholding the rule of law and promoting fundamental human rights, not stamping them out.”
The organisation urged the Senate to immediately reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan, and revise parliamentary procedures that unduly restrict senators’ human rights within 48 hours of the receipt and/or publication of this letter or face legal action.
According to SERAP, punishing Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for peacefully expressing herself is unlawful, unnecessary and disproportionate, adding: “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.”
