SERAP urges Akpabio to uphold constitution, reinstate Suspended Natasha without delay

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Nigerian Senate to instantly reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and let her to resume legislative duties.

In a connection issued connected Tuesday, SERAP said the Kogi Central lawmaker’s suspension, which began successful March aft a heated altercation during plenary, has ended and should not beryllium extended nether immoderate pretext.

“There is nary instrumentality successful Nigeria that prevents the resumption of her legislative duties pending the proceeding and determination of the case(s) successful court. This travesty of justness indispensable end,” the organisation said.

SERAP accused the Senate of utilizing pending tribunal cases arsenic an excuse to artifact Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return, informing that specified an enactment undermines the regularisation of law. It stressed that the senator, who had formally notified the Clerk of the National Assembly of her volition to resume connected September 4, indispensable beryllium allowed backmost to the chamber.

The radical further demanded the contiguous outgo of each her outstanding salaries and allowances for the duration of the suspension.

Describing the suspension arsenic a usurpation of some home and planetary quality rights guarantees, SERAP cited the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), the African Charter connected Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant connected Civil and Political Rights.

“No 1 should ever beryllium punished for ‘speaking without permission’. Being a legislator does not deprive Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan of her cardinal quality rights,” SERAP added.

“The Senate should beryllium mounting an illustration by upholding the regularisation of instrumentality and promoting and protecting cardinal quality rights, not stamping them out,” the organisation stressed.

The station SERAP urges Akpabio to uphold constitution, reinstate Suspended Natasha without delay appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.