Fijabi Olanrewaju
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Idahosa West has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding Thursday six months kk slammed on the senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate leadership headed by Mr Godswill Akapbio.
The Kogi State-born senator was found guilty of unparliamentary conduct by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions which recommended that Senator Natasha be placed on a six-month suspension. The committee chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen (Labour Party, Edo), equally recommended that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan be directed not to come anywhere close to the National Assembly complex, Her salaries, allowances and security details were also suspended for the duration of her suspension. She was also barred from presenting herself as a senator for local and international media for the duration of her suspension.
Aside from the above, she must write a written apology before she resumes office after the six-month suspension for actions deemed disrespectful to the Senate institution.
However, weighing in on the development, Barrister West maintains that the lawmakers went beyond the powers conferred on them by the Constitution and other extant laws.
According to him, aside from lacking the power to suspend a lawmaker for more than 14 days, the leadership of the Senate cannot also suspend without hearing from the other party.
Hear him: “You can’t suspend a sitting senator or lawmaker for more than 14 days, and not only that, you can also not suspend without hearing the other party,
The suggestion that Senator Natasha failed to appear before the Ethics Committee prior to her suspension, remember that she filed an action, and she was probably present in court. So, it will depend on whether there was a means of proof of service on the Ethics Committee meeting by the Senate.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio’s handling of the entire situation was wrong due to the dual responsibilities of leadership. The Senate President is the interpreter of their rules. And so, in interpreting the rules, you have two obligations: you have to be compassionate and, at the same time, you have to be humanistic. Remember, we are dealing with human beings, and then you must recognise that the world recognizes the endangered nature of female politicians.
Even in the reallocation of seats, there is a notification. I am aware that text messages are either sent or a publication done. So, if you didn’t get any of that, you suddenly come to the Senate on that day, and some legislative staff say, ‘No, you can’t stay here; this is where you are going to sit as a member of the Senate.’ You are not a slave.
Remember that part of what qualifies you to remain in the Senate is that you were elected. So, the right to speak as a senator is guaranteed, and the right to protest is guaranteed.”
….Idahosa West (SAN)
Eighteen-Eleven Media