Connect with us

National

Senate Under Fire As Falana Demands Justice For Natasha

By Benjamin Abioye

Published

on

Falana Senate Natasha

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has called on the Senate to immediately lift the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing the action as illegal and a clear case of legislative recklessness.

In a statement Falana argued that several court rulings had established that suspending a lawmaker was unconstitutional. He also criticized the Senate’s Ethics Committee for proceeding with the petition against Natasha despite a Federal High Court order restraining it.

Falana cited past cases where similar suspensions had been overturned by the courts. He mentioned the case of Kano lawmaker Abdulmumin Jibrin, who was suspended for 180 days after accusing the House of Representatives leadership of budget padding. “The Federal High Court nullified the suspension and ordered the payment of the withheld salaries and allowances of the legislator,” he recalled.

He also referenced the suspension of Senator Ali Ndume in 2017, which was annulled by the Federal High Court. “Based on the case of the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly vs Honourable Rifkatu Danna (2017) 49 WRN 82, the 2017 suspension of Senator Ali Ndume by the Bukola Saraki-led Senate was annulled by the Federal High Court. The case was filed on behalf of the Senator by his lawyer, Marcel Oru Esq.”

Falana further highlighted the 2020 case of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, whose suspension was also declared illegal. “In the same vein, the 2020 suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was declared illegal and unconstitutional by the Federal High Court. The case was filed on behalf of the Senator by Edward Omaga Esq.”

He cited another instance from Jigawa State, where a lawmaker was suspended for criticizing the governor. “Sometime in 2020, the Jigawa State House of Assembly suspended a lawmaker, Hon. Sani Iyaku, over alleged criticism of the state governor, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Badaru, who was on a visit to Hadejia town for a wedding ceremony. Honourable Iyaku challenged his suspension in the Jigawa State High Court. The trial Judge, Justice Ahmed, ruled that the action of the Assembly did not comply with order 15 rule 74 (2)(c) and (3) a, b of the state House of Assembly standing orders 2017 and therefore declared the suspension illegal, inappropriate, null and void. The court also directed that the defendant be paid his three months allowances withheld to the tune of N3 million.”

Falana also pointed to a 2020 Court of Appeal ruling in Ondo State, where three suspended lawmakers were reinstated. “On November 18, 2020, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure, Ondo State, dismissed the motion for stay of execution filed by the state House of Assembly against the judgment of the High Court reinstating the three suspended members of the state assembly. The Presiding Judge, Justice Folayemi Omoleye, queried the appellants for bringing a frivolous appeal before the court, directing that the lawmakers should be reinstated immediately to resume their legislative duties.”

Another case in 2024 saw a similar ruling. “On August 13, 2024, the same court reinstated Hon. Iroju Ogundeji as the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly. In a unanimous ruling, Justices Oyebisi Folayemi Omoleye, Frederick Oziakpono-Oho, and Yusuf Alhaji Bashir affirmed the decision made by Justice Akintan Osadebey, which reinstated the two-term legislator representing the Odigbo state constituency.”

Falana stated that in the last five years, multiple courts had nullified suspensions of lawmakers in Kogi and Edo States. “In the past five years, the High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, and the National Industrial Court nullified the illegal suspension of members of the Houses of Assembly of Kogi and Edo State respectively.”

He also referenced the recent case of Senator Abdul Ningi, who was suspended in March 2024. “In March 2024, the Godswill Akpabio-led Senate suspended Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP; Bauchi) for three months for alleging that Nigeria’s 2024 budget was padded. The Senator instructed our law firm to challenge the suspension in the Federal High Court. We wrote to the leadership of the Senate to review the suspension in view of the illegality of the action. As we were preparing to challenge the suspension in the Federal High Court, the Senate recalled Senator Ningi and paid his withheld salaries and allowances.”

Falana insisted that Natasha’s suspension must be lifted immediately, as previous court rulings had already set a precedent. “In view of the definitive pronouncements of the several High Court and the Court of Appeal on the illegality of the suspension of elected members of legislative houses in Nigeria, the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is the height of legislative recklessness. The illegal suspension should be lifted without any further delay.”

He further criticized the Senate for ignoring the court’s directive. “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 concluded by warning against the continued misuse of suspension powers by legislative bodies. “Finally, the official impunity of suspending legislators at the whims and caprices of leaders of the federal and state legislative houses must stop.”
Send
 Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG