The Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, will challenge in court the six-month suspension slammed on her following her face-off with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over seating arrangements in the red chamber.
The legal counsel to the Kogi lawmaker, Victor Giwa, dismissed the Senate resolution as a violation of a court order.
Giwa spoke with The PUNCH on Thursday after the Kogi lawmaker was suspended by the senate and walked out from the National Assembly complex.
The Nigerian Bar Association and opposition parties similarly berated the red chamber for not giving Akpoti-Uduaghan ample time to present her sexual harassment complaint against Akpabio.
Giwa said the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges acted in violation of a court order that allegedly restrained it from taking further action on the matter pending the determination of a motion on notice.
The suspension is void, it cannot even take any effect. The suspension is illegal because there is a court order that restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from taking further action.
‘’The committee disobeyed a valid court order that was served on them, making a mockery of the chamber that is supposed to uphold the law,” Giwa said.
He argued that if Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had not sought legal intervention, the suspension might have stood.
The lawyer also expressed conviction that with a court order explicitly directing the Senate to halt disciplinary actions, the decision to suspend her was null and void.
Giwa further revealed that legal action would be taken against those responsible for violating the court’s directive.
“We are going back to court. The case is coming up in about two weeks, and we will inform the court that despite being served, including the Senate President, they still acted in violation of the order by suspending the plaintiff,” he stated.
When asked if there were plans to escalate the matter to international organizations, Giwa said, “For now, we are handling it locally. But, of course, the world is watching. The Senate must adhere to international best practices, which dictate that once a case is in court, no further action should be taken on it.”
He highlighted that the Nigerian Constitution supersedes the Senate Standing Orders, stating that every citizen had the right to seek redress in court when their civil rights are breached.
“Section 6, subsection 6 of the Constitution grants every citizen the right to seek redress when their civil rights are violated. Senator Natasha has done exactly that. Her suspension is an attempt to silence her for alleging wrongdoing against the Senate President, which amounts to a breach of her right to a fair hearing,” he added.