By Uche Onyeali
Some constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District have dragged Senate President Godswil Akpabio and the Senate before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the suspension of their elected representative, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from the National Assembly.
The appellants, including Ovavu Iliyasu, Isah Otini, Onivehu Amoto, Isah Mediant, Ogunmola Samuel, Umar Oyiza, Megida Sadiq, Siyaka Akinlade, Michael Ademola and Ananyi Omeiza, in the suit filed on their behalf by the law firm of Femi Falana & Co, are seeking, among other declarations, that their right to political participation under Article 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights had been violated.
The appellants argued that the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months unlawfully denies them representation in the National Assembly.
The litigants maintained that only the electorate has the authority to determine their representative’s tenure and that the respondents, which include Senate authorities, acted beyond their powers in suspending her.
They asked the court to set aside the suspension and compel the Senate to immediately restore all of Akpoti-Uduaghan ‘s rights and privileges.
They are requesting an injunction restraining the respondents from taking further actions that may infringe on their constitutional right to representation.
Part of their prayers include “an injunction restraining the respondents whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise howsoever from carrying out acts or omissions which may result in the contravention or likely contravention of the fundamental rights of the applicants.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
