A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of deliberately misrepresenting a voice vote to impose additional punishment on suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti.
During an Arise TV interview, SAN Okutepa claimed the Senate President overruled what appeared to be a clear majority vote against requiring Sen Natasha to issue a written apology before resuming her legislative duties. “A motion was raised on whether or not Senator Natasha, before she can resume her legislative duty, should put in a written apology to the Senate,” Okutepa explained. “I heard with my ears, and I’m sure Nigerians heard it as well. The Nay was higher than the Aye, but the Senate President said the Aye have it.”
The senior lawyer condemned this procedural manipulation as even more serious than the misconduct allegations against Senator Akpoti herself. “That procedure was more grievous than the allegation against Senator Natasha,” he stated.
Okutepa grounded his criticism in constitutional principles, citing specific legal protections. “Section 36, subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution, which is the ground norm of Nigeria’s constitution, says that in the determination of one’s civil rights and obligations, the person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or tribunal constituted in such a manner so as to ensure its impartiality,” he quoted.
The legal expert also identified the fundamental principles of justice that he believes were violated in the case of allowing Senator Akpabio to preside over the harassment allegation case. “Nigeria operates under the rule of law, and under the rule of law, there are twin pillars of that law. You can’t be a judge in your own case; the principle that you cannot condemn a person unheard.”
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