A Nigerian lawyer, Emmanuel Agi, writing from Glasgow, Scotland, has expressed concern over the continued suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan despite a subsisting court judgment declaring the sanction excessive and fully spent.
In a letter addressed to Senator Adeniyi Adegbomerie, SAN, Mr. Agi acknowledged the Senator’s emergence as a respected voice in the National Assembly but raised questions about the Senate’s handling of the matter.
He noted that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which reviewed the case earlier in March, proceeded in a manner that, in his view, contradicted the judicial order.
According to him, the decision to sustain the suspension beyond the six months already served “raises concerns about constitutional compliance and respect for the rule of law.”
The lawyer urged lawmakers to reflect on the broader implications of the decision, stressing that “precedents set in the heat of political contestation can shape the future of democratic governance in unintended ways.”
While emphasizing that his intervention was not aimed at personalities, Mr. Agi said the role of legislators and senior members of the legal profession is to safeguard democratic institutions and ensure balance between the arms of government.
He further encouraged the Senate to revisit the issue in the spirit of constitutionalism and good governance, describing compliance with court judgments as vital to sustaining public trust in both the legislature and the judiciary.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was suspended earlier this year following proceedings at the Senate, but a Federal High Court later ruled that the action was excessive and had lapsed after six months. Her return to the chamber has since remained pending.