A former federal lawmaker and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), West Idahosa, has strongly condemned the Nigerian Senate’s suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Idahosa described the decision as “predetermined” and a clear violation of a court order.
Idahosa argued that the Senate’s actions not only wronged Akpoti-Uduaghan but also undermined Nigeria’s judicial system. He pointed out that a court order was served on the Senate, and despite this, they proceeded with the suspension without giving her a fair hearing, violating Section 36 of the Constitution.
The former lawmaker criticized the Senate for disregarding judicial authority, stating that if he were the judge who issued the order, he would take strong measures to uphold the law.
Idahosa also noted that the dispute over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat allocation should have been addressed through proper legislative procedures rather than leading to her suspension.
Idahosa’s comments come after Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate, sparking a heated debate about the legitimacy of the decision. The senator has since filed a N100 billion defamation suit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his aide over a Facebook post.
