SERAP Demands End to Natasha’s Suspension, Calls for Immediate Reinstatement
Civil rights watchdog, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged the Senate to swiftly reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, asserting that her six-month suspension has officially expired and no legal barrier exists to delay her return.
Suspension Period Over, Calls for Action Intensify
SERAP argues that the suspension, which began in March, has reached its conclusion. The organization emphasizes that the Senate has no lawful ground to extend her absence while court proceedings are still pending. “There is no law in Nigeria that prevents the resumption of her legislative duties pending a court hearing,” SERAP insists, calling the continued sidelining of the lawmaker a “travesty of justice.
Senator Natasha Must Be Allowed Back With Back Pay
The group underscores that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan formally notified the Clerk of the National Assembly of her intent to resume duties on September 4. They insist she should be allowed back into the chamber immediately and that she deserves full payment of her withheld salaries and allowances accrued during her suspension.
A Constitutional and Rights-Based Perspective
By delaying Natasha’s return, SERAP points out, the Senate risks violating not just the 1999 Constitution (as amended) but also Nigeria’s international human rights commitments such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The organization urges that the Senate be held accountable for upholding fundamental rights.
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