July 04, (THEWILL) — The Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Nigerian Senate to recall the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from suspension.
Justice Binta Nyako ordered Natasha’s recall from the six-month suspension while ruling on Friday, in a suit challenging the Senate’s action.
THEWILL had reported that Natasha had been suspended for six months for misconduct and violation of Senate rules. Her suspension includes the withdrawal of her salary, security details, barred access to the National Assembly premises and identifying herself as a senator.
Ruling on Friday, Justice Nyako declared the six-month suspension “excessive” and declared the provision of Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules as well as section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act, as overreaching.
Noting that the two legislations failed to specify the maximum period that a serving lawmaker could be suspended from office, and that lawmakers have 181 days to sit in every legislative circle, Justice Nyako held that the six months suspension slammed on Natasha was akin to pushing her away from her responsibilities to her constituents for about 180 days.
While emphasising the power of the Senate to punish any of its members, the court declared that such punishment must not be excessive to deprive the constituents of their right to be represented. Consequently, the court dismissed Akpabio’s contention that it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
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