The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has dragged Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to court over the failure to reverse the suspension of the senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The rights group claimed that the purported suspension of the lawmaker is based solely on the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression.
The upper legislative chamber had recently suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months after she allegedly refused to take her new place in the Senate chamber and spoke without authorization.
She has reportedly been prohibited from identifying herself as a senator, and her pay and benefits have been withdrawn for the duration of the suspension.
However, in a lawsuit submitted last Friday to the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is requesting a mandamus order to order Akpabio to reinstate Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and fully restore all of her legislative rights, privileges, and entitlements.
The rights group is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Senate from further suspending or taking any disciplinary action against Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for the peaceful exercise of her fundamental human rights.
In the suit, SERAP, argued that granting the application would serve the public interest and promote respect for the rights of everyone in the National Assembly.
It also insisted that no one should ever be punished for speaking without permission, adding that being a senator does not deprive Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights.
Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
