The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has challenged the decision of the Nigerian Senate to prevent Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from resuming following the expiration of her six-month suspension.

SERAP, in a statement made available to Naijaonpoint on Tuesday, stated that preventing Senator Natasha from resuming is contrary to the fundamental notion of the rule of law.

The organization added that no law in Nigeria prevents the lawmaker from resuming legislative duties pending the resolution of her court case.

It therefore called on the Senate and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to allow Senator Natasha to resume as stated in her letter notifying the clerk to the National Assembly of her intention to resume on September 4, the date she said marked the end of her six-month suspension.

SERAP added that continuing to punish Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for the peaceful exercise of her constitutionally and internationally recognized right to freedom of expression is unacceptable.

It added that the Senate must not only allow her to resume her legislative duties, but also pay her salary and allowances for the duration of the suspension.

“Senate President Mr Godswill Akpabio and Nigeria’s Senate must immediately allow Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume her legislative duties as indicated in her letter to the clerk of the National Assembly.

“The Senate cannot use the pending case(s) in court as a pretext to prevent Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming legislative duties. This is antithetical to the fundamental notion of the rule of law.

“There is no law in Nigeria that prevents the resumption of her legislative duties pending the hearing and determination of the case(s) in court. This travesty of justice must END.

“Mr Godswill Akpabio and the Senate must immediately honour Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s letter notifying the clerk to the national assembly of her intention to resume on September 4, the date she said marked the end of her six-month suspension.

“The Senate should not continue to punish Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for the peaceful exercise of her constitutionally and internationally recognized right to freedom of expression.

“The Senate must allow her to resume her legislative duties and pay her salary and allowances for the duration of the suspension.

“Preventing her to resume her legislative duties is a blatant disregard of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.

“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 fundamental human rights, not stamping them out.

“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 statement read.

Naijaonpoint recalls that Senator Natasha had, through her lawyers, communicated her plans to resume plenary alongside her colleagues when the Senate reconvenes on September 23.

However, the Senate turned down her request to return to her legislative duties.

In a letter signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Yahaya Danzaria, the lawmakers insisted that the embattled senator’s six-month suspension stands until the Court of Appeal rules on her case.