The Director of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid, Mrs. Funmi Falana SAN, described the suspension of the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as a “disgraceful display of power”.
Last week, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months following a recommendation from its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. This suspension came just days after a heated exchange between her and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary over seat allocation. She also appeared on a live television programme the following morning, where she accused him of sexual harassment.
In a statement on Saturday, Falana threatened to bring members of the Senate who are lawyers before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee if the suspension was not reversed.
Akpabio and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele are among the lawyers in the Red Chamber.
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The wife of human rights activist Femi Falana SAN argued that the Senate exhibited gross impunity by suspending Akpoti-Uduaghan without affording her a fair hearing.
Mrs. Falana said, “By suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan without giving her the opportunity to substantiate the allegation of sexual abuse levelled against the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate violated her fundamental right to a fair hearing, as guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
“Having sworn to uphold the provisions of the Constitution without fear or favour, the gross impunity displayed by the senators cannot be justified. The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate is a disgraceful abuse of power.
“On two occasions, the Senate suspended two of its members – Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and Senator Ali Ndume. On both occasions, the Federal High Court declared the suspensions illegal and unconstitutional.
“In the case of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Federal High Court had restrained the Senate Committee from hearing the complaint against her, pending the determination of the motion on notice.
“Since the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan cannot be justified under the Constitution and the Rules of the Senate, the Senate is advised to lift the suspension without delay. Otherwise, members of the Senate who are lawyers will be brought before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee by Women Empowerment and Legal Aid.”
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is considering a bill to amend the 1999 Constitution to review the processes for suspending federal lawmakers.
According to a member of the House of Representatives, Mansur Soro, the Senate Standing Rules are not superior to the 1999 Constitution.
Soro, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing the Darazo/Gnajuwa Federal Constituency in Bauchi State, is sponsoring a bill for an Act to amend the 1999 Constitution to “Regulate the process of suspending a member of the National Assembly from legislative duties and for related matters,” which is currently before the Committee on Constitution Review.
A copy of the bill revealed that the proposed legislation seeks to alter Section 60 of the Constitution by introducing a new sub-section 2.
Section 60 of the Principal Act would be amended to include a new sub-section 2, which would read: “Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorising the Senate or the House of Representatives to suspend its member(s) except through a recommendation by its committee responsible for ethics and privileges and approved by signatures of a two-thirds majority of the members of that House.”
Speaking with our correspondent, the federal lawmaker explained, “This bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to regulate the process of suspending a member of the National Assembly.
“This is to prevent abuse of regulations and procedures in suspending a duly elected member of the National Assembly, ensuring that the representation and voice of all senatorial districts and federal constituencies are sustained in both houses of the National Assembly.”
When asked what the Red Chamber should do in light of the controversy surrounding the Natasha/Akpabio dispute, the Bauchi lawmaker said, “The Senate should obey the court, recall Senator Natasha, and allow the court to decide the matter. The Constitution created the office, and rules cannot take precedence over constitutional provisions. The people of Kogi Central Senatorial District should not be punished for the conflict between two senators. Their voice and representation in the Senate should be restored.”
In light of the tension generated by the development, Soro called for a review of the process of appointing the chairman and members of the Ethics and Privileges Committee in both chambers of the National Assembly, adding, “You can’t expect the chairpersons to act against the person who appointed them.”
