The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over his refusal to reverse the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months after allegedly speaking without permission and rejecting her reassigned seat in the Senate chamber. As a result, her salary and allowances were withheld, and she was barred from identifying herself as a senator.
In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/498/2025, SERAP is seeking a court order to compel Akpabio to reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan and restore her full legislative rights. The group argues that no senator should be punished for exercising their right to free speech. SERAP is also asking for an injunction to prevent further disciplinary actions against her.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has condemned the political feud between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling it a distraction from Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis. He criticized the Senate for prioritizing personal disputes over urgent issues like rising electricity tariffs, tax hikes, and the removal of fuel subsidies.
“The feud between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan is a mere distraction,” Adeyanju said at a press briefing in Abuja. “At a time when Nigerians are struggling, the Senate should focus on real governance, not personal grievances.”
Despite calls for her recall, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents in Kogi Central have expressed unwavering support for her. The Concerned Constituents of Kogi Central, led by AbdulRahaman Badamasiuy, described her representation as “quality” and dismissed any attempts to remove her as undemocratic.
A letter signed by 70 constituents labeled her suspension illegal and urged the Senate to reverse its decision. “She remains the one in whom we deposited our legitimacy as a senatorial constituency, and nobody can violate our democratic rights,” the letter stated.
Sources indicate that Akpoti-Uduaghan fears arrest upon returning to Nigeria. Reports suggest she narrowly avoided detention in New York, where she spoke at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) about her suspension and alleged attempts to silence her over sexual harassment claims. She is reportedly under investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Her fate remains uncertain as pressure mounts on the Senate to address concerns about political persecution and democratic rights.
