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Summary
Falana has called on the Nigerian Senate to immediately reinstate Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, emphasising that courts have repeatedly ruled such suspensions illegal. He warned against legislative impunity and urged lawmakers to respect the rule of law.
Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has condemned Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, describing it as an act of legislative recklessness that must be reversed immediately.
In a statement on Sunday, Mar. 9, 2025, Falana criticised the Nigerian Senate for ignoring multiple court rulings that have consistently declared legislative suspensions illegal. He noted that despite a Federal High Court order restraining the Senate Ethics Committee from proceeding against Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senate went ahead with the suspension, violating judicial precedents.
“The illegal suspension should be lifted without any further delay,” Falana said. “Since the Federal High Court had restrained the Senate Ethics Committee from hearing the complaint against the embattled senator pending the determination of the motion on notice, the Senate ought to have stayed action in accordance with the rule of law.”
Falana further outlined past legal victories against unlawful legislative suspensions, citing multiple cases where courts ruled such actions unconstitutional. He referenced the “Dino Melaye & 10 Others (2010)” case, where the Federal High Court declared the suspension illegal and ordered the payment of withheld salaries. He also cited “Hon. Rifkatu Danna (2012 & 2017),” whose suspension by the Bauchi State House of Assembly was nullified by both the State High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Additionally, he highlighted the “Abdulmumin Jibrin” (2018) case, in which the Federal High Court nullified the lawmaker’s 180-day suspension for accusing the House leadership of budget padding. Other notable cases included “Senator Ali Ndume” (2017), “Senator Ovie Omo-Agege” (2020), and “Hon. Sani Iyaku” (2020), all of whom had their suspensions overturned by courts.
Falana further noted that in March 2024, the Senate, under Godswill Akpabio’s leadership, suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for alleging budget padding. However, after legal pressure, the Senate recalled Ningi and paid his withheld salaries and allowances.
He warned that suspending lawmakers at the discretion of legislative leaders undermines democracy and must not continue. “The official impunity of suspending legislators at the whims and caprices of leaders of the federal and state legislative houses must not be allowed to continue in Nigeria,” he stated.
Meanwhile, in a recent turn of events, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria has instructed Senator Akpabio and others to submit their defence in a lawsuit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. However, Nigerian feminists continue to protest Senator Natasha’s suspension, educating and sensitising market women about the injustice. The protest is currently ongoing from Mar. 9, 2025, till Mar. 14, 2025, in different states across the country, including Lagos, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Edo, Abia, FCT Abuja, Kogi, Oyo and Ogun states, respectively. A solidarity march has also been held in Oslo, Norway, by diaspora Nigerians and foreigners in support of Senator Natasha.
