The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has warned Senate President Godswill Akpabio against blocking Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming legislative duties.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months on March 6. In a letter to the clerk of the national assembly, she said the suspension lapsed on September 4 and notified the chamber of her readiness to resume.
In a statement on Tuesday, SERAP described the continued bar on her resumption as a violation of the constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
SERAP said: “The Senate cannot use the pending case(s) in court as a pretext to prevent Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming legislative duties. This is antithetical to the fundamental notion of the rule of law.
“There is no law in Nigeria that prevents the resumption of her legislative duties pending the determination of the case(s) in court. This travesty of justice must end.”
The organisation said Akpoti-Uduaghan should also be paid her salaries and allowances for the duration of the suspension.
“Preventing her from resuming is a blatant disregard of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” SERAP said.
The group said senators must tolerate political speech, especially when directed at government officials, rather than punish dissent.
“Being a senator does not deprive Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights. The senate should be setting an example by upholding the rule of law and protecting rights, not stamping them out,” it added.