Natasha’s constituents sue senate over suspension

A group of constituents from Kogi Central Senatorial District has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate.

The suit, filed on April 4, 2025 by ten applicants, seeks the enforcement of their fundamental rights to political participation under Article 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The applicants base their case on eight grounds and seek seven specific reliefs for determination.

The ten applicants in the suit are Ovavu Iliyasu, Isah Otini, Onivehu Amoto, Isah Mediant, Ogunmola Samuel, Umar Oyiza, Megida Sadiq, Siyaka Akinlade, Michael Ademola, and Ananyi Omeiza.

The Senate President and the Senate are listed as the first and second respondents, respectively.

In their originating motion, the applicants argued that the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, imposed by the Senate and its President, is unconstitutional and deprives them of their right to representation.

It will be recalled that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6, for six months over allegations of misconduct.

The applicants contend that the senator’s suspension, announced on March 6, 2025, violates their entitlement to participate freely in governance through their elected representative.

They are seeking an injunction to restrain the Senate from taking any further actions that might contravene their rights.

According to the applicants, the suspension denies hundreds of thousands of constituents across the district representation and the ability to contribute to national decision-making processes.

They further allege that the suspension lacks justification and undermines the senator’s historically robust contributions to debates on national issues.

The applicants stated, “The Kogi Central Senatorial District consists of five local government areas, with hundreds of thousands of constituents. These constituents are now being denied representation in the Senate due to the actions of the respondents suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“The applicants and other constituents have been put in a disadvantageous position by being denied their right to political representation in the Senate.

“The decision of the respondents to suspend the senator representing the applicants’ senatorial district is without justification.

“The 36 states and 776 local governments that make up the federation have also been shortchanged by the respondents’ actions, given the acknowledged robust contributions of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to national issues.”

The applicants maintain they are entitled to the reliefs sought due to the alleged violations.

Among other reliefs, they seek the following declarations, “That, under Article 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, the applicants are entitled to participate freely in the government of Nigeria, either directly or through freely chosen representatives, by the law.

“That, as members of the Kogi Central Senatorial District, the applicants are entitled to representation in the Senate by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for a four-year term from June 2023 to June 2027.

“That the respondents lack the authority to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate in any manner.

“That the suspension constitutes a violation of the applicants’ rights to participate freely in governance”.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana, urged the court to set aside the suspension.

Citing the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as the legal foundation for the arguments, the applicants also requested the court to restore all rights and privileges accruing to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, including her access to the National Assembly Complex and the immediate payment of her entitlements, which were halted following her suspension.

In addition, the applicants are seeking the following orders: “An order setting aside the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“An order directing the respondents, including the Clerk of the National Assembly, to immediately restore all rights and privileges accruing to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, including her right of access to the National Assembly Complex, her right to participate in Senate sittings and debates, and the use of her allotted office space in the National Assembly. This includes payment of her outstanding entitlements.

“An injunction restraining the respondents from engaging in any actions that might further contravene the fundamental rights of the applicants”.

A date for the hearing is yet to be scheduled.