The constituents of embattled senator in Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti -Uduaghan has sued the Nigerian Senate and it’s president before a Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging her suspension for six months.
The suit, an Originating Summons brought pursuant to Article 13(1) of the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Enforcement Act Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and Order 11, Order IX, and Order XII of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 seeks to enforce their rights of representation by their Senator in the Upper Chamber of the Legislature.
The Applicants in the suit are Hon. Ovavu Iliyasu, Isah Otini, Onivehu Musa Amoto, Isah Mediant, Ogunmola Oladimeji Samuel and Umar Hajarat Oyiza.
Others include Megida Lukman Sadiq, Siyaka Liyasu Akinlade, Michael Paul Ademola, and Ananyi Lukman Omeiza.
They are seeking the following reliefs from the court:
A declaration that by virtue of Article 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the Applicants are entitled to participate freely in the government of Nigeria, either directly or through freely chosen representatives in accordance with the law.
A declaration that as members of the Kogi Central Senatorial District, the Applicants are entitled to participate freely in the government of Nigeria through their elected representative Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for a four(4) year certain by virtue of Article 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
A declaration that by the combined effect of Article 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Ratification and Enforcement Act Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the Applicants are entitled to be represented in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from June 2023 to June 2027.
A declaration that by virtue of Article 13 (1) of the African Charter On Human Peoples’ Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 of the LFN 2004, the Respondents lacks the powers to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.
A declaration that the purported suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the Respondents for a six (6) months period constitutes a violation of the right of the Applicants to participate freely in the government of Nigeria as guaranteed by Article 13(1) of the African Charter On Human Peoples’ Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act CAP A9 of the LFN 2004.
An order of this honourable court setting aside the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the Respondents.
An order of this honourable court mandating the Respondents whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise howsoever including the Clerk of the National Assembly to immediately restore all the rights and privileges accruing to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing the good people of Kogi Central Senatorial District in the 10th Senate forthwith, including her right of access into the National Assembly Complex, her right to participate in the daily sitting of the Senate and make contribution to debates on the floor of the Senate, her right to access and make use of her allotted office space in the National Assembly and payment of her outstanding entitlements.
An injunction restraining the respondents whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise howsoever from carrying out any acts or omissions which may result in the contravention or likely contravention of the fundamental rights of the applicants.
The applicants averred that that are all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and are residents within the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
They claimed that on the 6th day of March 2025, the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was suspended by the Respondents for six (6) months.
They further averred that as lawful citizens of Kogi Central Senatorial District and all other indigenes of the Senatorial District, they have been denied the right of having a Senator representing the district in the National Assembly and make contributions to national debates that may be presented on the floor of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
They further stated that Kogi Central Senatorial District constitutes five local governments with hundreds of thousands as constituents throughout the five Local governments making up the senatorial district are now being denied representation in the senate by the acts of the Respondents suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
They further averred: “The Applicants and other constituents have been put in a disadvantageous situation by being denied their right to due political representation in the senate.
The decision of the Respondents to suspend the senator representing the Applicants’ Senatorial District from the parliament is without any justification;
The various 36 states and the 776 local governments making up the federation have also been shortchanged by the unholy act of Respondents due to the usual and well-acknowledged robust contributions of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to national issues on the floor of the 2nd Defendant;
The Applicants are entitled to the reliefs sought on account of the said violations”.
No date is yet fixed for the hearing of the suit.
