Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Monday Ubani, has stated that the only part of the Federal High Court ruling delivered in Abuja concerning the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that was not too clear, was the pronouncement on the suspension.
During an interview with Channels TV 7:42, Ubani noted that from the information he gathered, the court acknowledged that while the Senate has the constitutional authority to discipline its members, it considered the six-month suspension excessive.
He stated that the court reportedly pointed out that such a lengthy suspension could deprive the constituents of adequate and effective representation.
He noted that the judge did not issue a direct order compelling the Senate to reinstate Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. According to him, the court expressed an opinion and urged the Senate to consider recalling her.
Ubani further addressed public interpretations suggesting that the court ordered her reinstatement, emphasizing that the court merely recommended a review of the suspension, rather than issuing a binding directive.
He said, “The only pronouncement that was not too clear was the pronouncement on the issue of the six-month suspension. I hear that the court was saying even though you have the right to discipline a member of the Senate, she considered that the six-month suspension was excessive and that it would deny members of the constituency adequate and effective representation, and that she is asking the Senate to consider recalling her back. I’m reading people saying the court ordered the Senate to take her back. But the issue was that she considered that as an opinion, and then asked the Senate to consider recalling her back.”
