Lagos, March 16, 2025 – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a law suit against Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, form his failure to reverse the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly.
It said the suspension was based solely on the peaceful exercise of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to freedom of expression.
The Senate, had recently, suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for allegedly breaching the rules of the upper chamber.
According to a statement issued by SERAP on Sunday, the suit was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.
The suit, titled, “SERAP sues Akpabio over failure to reverse the unlawful suspension of Natasha Akpoti”, seeks to overturn the six-month suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan which SERAP said violated her fundamental rights.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/498/2025, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel Akpabio to rescind the unlawful suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, reinstate her, and fully restore all her legislative rights, entitlements, and privileges.
It is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Senate from further suspending or taking any disciplinary action against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for the peaceful exercise of her fundamental human rights.
SERAP is also seeking a declaration that the application of Sections 6(1)(2) of the Senate Rules and the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended) to suspend Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan violated her human rights and deprives her constituents of their right to political participation.
SEPAP is arguing that granting the application would serve the public interest and promote respect for the rights of everyone in the National Assembly.
It also argued that 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.
SRAP said that the Senate should be setting an example by upholding the rule of law and promoting and protecting human rights, not stamping them out.
It said Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was based solely on the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression in the Senate.
SERAP said all the other grounds cited by the Senate for her suspension seem to be a pretext to further restrict her fundamental human rights.
No date has been fixed for the hearing. (GBN)
