News
Suspension Of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Unconstitutional, Against Her Privileges As An Elected Senator-Hon.Ukubeyinje
By: Emma Arubi, Warri
A Warri based Legal Practitioner and former of the member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon.Misan Ukuneyinje has stated that the suspension of distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate Committee on ethics and privileges and indeed the senate acted against the extant rules of the Nigerian Senate regarding protection of the rights of senators under threat and intimidation.
He said they rather acted in the shielding of the senate president in-spite of grievances of allegation of sexual harassment, intimidation and victimization.
According to Ukubeyinje who also was a former Commissioner in the State “it is unconstitutional to suspend a senator more than 14 days for wrongdoing, Rules of senate order 67(4), the provisions of the legislative houses ( powers and privileges) Act 2018 a member of any legislative house guilty of contempt of the house cannot be suspended for more than 48 hours”.
Describing the suspension as an act of legislative rascality, he cited the case of Ali Ndume vs Senate which was decided by Court of Appeal in 2018 that held that a senator cannot be suspended for more than 14 days and the case of senator Ovie Omo Agege is also supportive of this legal stand.
“The 10th senate are not good students of history. I see no wrongdoing by Senator Natasha AKPOTI UDUAGHAN by speaking out against her perceived oppression, intimidation, victimization and sexual harassment.
“Whilst pursuing her rights before the senate by raising Order 10 which was ignored and submitting a written and detailed petition, it is expected that the distinguish senate protect her rights and thoroughly investigate all issues surrounding the grievances before it and come up with a detailed report which will be fully deliberated upon with the senate president recusing himself.
“Rather the senate, dismissed her petition bordering on sexual harassment and intimidation claiming sub -Judice, citing the suit filed by the wife to Senate President, thereby manifestly perpetuating double standard, approbating and reprobating, and wrongly assuming jurisdiction by suspending her beyond their powers.
“Their actions amounts to legislative rascality in the highest order”, Ukubeyinje argued.
The former law maker remarks that the senate therefore shot themselves in the foot by suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti UDUAGHAN for six months and withdrawing all privileges attached to her as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing the people of Kogi central senatorial district and puts the senate President HE Senator Godswill Akpabio in the international spotlight and has put the integrity of the 10th senate to question.
He therefore call upon the senate to forthwith review their suspension of distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan to redeem their lost image.
A Warri based Legal Practitioner and former of the member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon.Misan Ukuneyinje has stated that the suspension of distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate Committee on ethics and privileges and indeed the senate acted against the extant rules of the Nigerian Senate regarding protection of the rights of senators under threat and intimidation.
He said they rather acted in the shielding of the senate president in-spite of grievances of allegation of sexual harassment, intimidation and victimization.
According to Ukubeyinje who also was a former Commissioner in the State “it is unconstitutional to suspend a senator more than 14 days for wrongdoing, Rules of senate order 67(4), the provisions of the legislative houses ( powers and privileges) Act 2018 a member of any legislative house guilty of contempt of the house cannot be suspended for more than 48 hours”.
Describing the suspension as an act of legislative rascality, he cited the case of Ali Ndume vs Senate which was decided by Court of Appeal in 2018 that held that a senator cannot be suspended for more than 14 days and the case of senator Ovie Omo Agege is also supportive of this legal stand.
“The 10th senate are not good students of history. I see no wrongdoing by Senator Natasha AKPOTI UDUAGHAN by speaking out against her perceived oppression, intimidation, victimization and sexual harassment.
“Whilst pursuing her rights before the senate by raising Order 10 which was ignored and submitting a written and detailed petition, it is expected that the distinguish senate protect her rights and thoroughly investigate all issues surrounding the grievances before it and come up with a detailed report which will be fully deliberated upon with the senate president recusing himself.
“Rather the senate, dismissed her petition bordering on sexual harassment and intimidation claiming sub -Judice, citing the suit filed by the wife to Senate President, thereby manifestly perpetuating double standard, approbating and reprobating, and wrongly assuming jurisdiction by suspending her beyond their powers.
“Their actions amounts to legislative rascality in the highest order”, Ukubeyinje argued.
The former law maker remarks that the senate therefore shot themselves in the foot by suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti UDUAGHAN for six months and withdrawing all privileges attached to her as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing the people of Kogi central senatorial district and puts the senate President HE Senator Godswill Akpabio in the international spotlight and has put the integrity of the 10th senate to question.
He therefore call upon the senate to forthwith review their suspension of distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan to redeem their lost image.
