The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Senate to tender a public apology to both Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and her Kogi Central constituents.
The organisation said this while welcoming the return of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate. In a statement posted on X, SERAP described her suspension as a “blatant violation of her human rights and the right of her constituency to effective representation.”
The organisation further stressed that an apology would be a step towards redress. It also demanded that Akpoti-Uduaghan be paid all her outstanding salaries and allowances.
“She should never have been suspended in the first place simply for peacefully exercising her human rights.”
SERAP called on Senator Akpabio and the Senate to “publicly commit to guarantees of non-recurrence” and to respect the fundamental rights of lawmakers.
“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 statement added.
The rights group also reminded the Senate that it should be an example in promoting the rule of law.
“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.”
