Human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) has informed the leadership of the Senate that it would be committing an illegality if it prevents Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her duties in the assembly after her six-month suspension.
Adegboruwa’s statement came in response to a letter from the Acting Clerk of the Senate, which indicated that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan cannot return until her court case is resolved.
The senior lawyer argued that the Senate would be overstepping its authority if it maintained its current stance.
He stated that failing to allow her to resume her duties effectively prolongs her suspension beyond the six-month limit, without a valid Senate resolution to justify such an extension.
Adegboruwa maintained that lawmakers cannot hide behind cases pending in court to extend their suspensions illegally.
He claimed, “The court case being referred to relates to the six months suspension, as to its validity and constitutionality. The appeal flowing from that case is also limited in scope to the six-month suspension. Anything to the contrary will portray the Senate as being vindictive and petty.
“The trial court made the point that the suspension period should not exceed the usual sitting days of the Senate for a session. To refuse her resumption after six months will mean making the suspension indefinite.
“Since this matter relates to the rights and privileges of a constituency comprising millions of voters, the Senate should do what is needed by allowing Senator Natasha to resume forthwith.
“She has already served the six months in full, and any determination by the court can only relate to the validity of the suspension and her entitlements, but certainly, the sessions of the Senate that she missed due to her suspension cannot be reversed forever.
“In essence, the purpose of the suspension having been fulfilled, no useful purpose will be served to deny her from resuming duties as a Senator,” Adegboruwa stated.
