Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has criticised the Nigerian Senate for preventing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from returning to the chamber despite completing her six-month suspension.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Tuesday, Effiong argued that the Senate’s reliance on sub judice to block her return amounts to “double jeopardy.”
“She has already been penalised for a definite period and has served that period. What the Senate is now doing is unconstitutional and unjust,” Effiong maintained.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had formally notified the Senate of her intention to resume on 4 September, the day she said marked the end of her suspension.
However, in a letter dated the same day, Acting Clerk to the National Assembly Yahaya Danzaria informed her that she could not resume until the Court of Appeal delivers judgment on her legal challenge against the suspension.
“The matter remains sub judice, and until the judicial process is concluded, no administrative action can be taken to facilitate your resumption,” the letter read.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on 6 March 2025 over allegations of insubordination after she resisted a change of her designated seat during plenary.
The Senate insists her suspension remains in force until the court rules, while critics say the decision undermines legislative fairness and constitutional rights.