The Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, is being sued by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for “failing to reverse the patently unlawful suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as the
purported suspension is based solely on the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression.”
After Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly “spoke without permission” and “refused her new seat in the Senate chamber,”
the Senate recently suspended her for six months. During the suspension, she has also been prohibited from
identifying herself as a senator, and her pay and benefits have been withdrawn.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/498/2025 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking “an
order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio to rescind the unlawful suspension of Mrs Natasha Akpoti-
Uduaghan, reinstate her, and fully restore all her legislative rights, entitlements, and privileges.”
SERAP is seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Senate from further suspending or taking any
disciplinary action against Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for the peaceful exercise of her fundamental human rights.”
SERAP is also seeking “a declaration that the application of sections 6(1)(2) of the Senate Rules, the Senate Standing
Orders 2023 (as amended), to suspend Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan violates her human rights and deprives her
constituents of their right to political participation.”
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “Granting this application would serve the public interest and promote respect for the rights of everyone in the National Assembly.”
SERAP is arguing that, “No one should ever be punished for ‘speaking without permission’. 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 promoting and protecting human rights, not stamping them out.”
SERAP is also arguing that, “Punishing Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for peacefully expressing herself is unlawful,
unnecessary and disproportionate. Her suspension would also have a disproportionate chilling effect on the ability of
other members of the Senate to freely express themselves and exercise their human rights.”
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According to SERAP, “Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension is based solely on the peaceful exercise of her right to
freedom of expression in the Senate. All the other grounds cited by the Senate for her suspension seem to be a
pretext to further restrict her fundamental human rights.”
SERAP is also arguing that, “Suspending Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of
expression has made her opinion in the Senate ineffective.”
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Mrs Adelanke Aremo, read in part: “No member of the Senate should suffer any consequences for peacefully exercising their freedom of expression.”
“Any application of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 by the Senate must conform with constitutional and
international human rights norms and standards relating to freedom of expression and should not jeopardise the right itself.”
“A higher degree of tolerance is expected when it is a political speech, and an even higher threshold is required when it is directed towards government officials, including members of the Senate.”
“The unlawful restriction of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to freedom of expression has indirectly violated Nigerians’ right to receive information and ideas and seriously undermined the right of her constituency to political participation.”
