The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over his failure to reverse what the organisation describes as the ‘unlawful suspension’ of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
SERAP argued that the suspension, which bars Akpoti-Uduaghan from legislative activities for six months, violates her fundamental right to freedom of expression and deprives her constituents of their right to political participation.
The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, also challenges the withholding of her salary and allowances during the suspension period.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended after reportedly ‘speaking without permission’ and ‘refusing to accept her new seats’ in the Senate chamber.
The Senate’s decision has sparked public debate, with critics describing it as a suppression of dissenting voices in the legislature.
In the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/498/2025, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus directing Akpabio to reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan and fully restore her legislative rights and entitlements.
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Additionally, SERAP is requesting a perpetual injunction to prevent further disciplinary actions against the senator for exercising her constitutional rights.
SERAP contends that ‘no one should ever be punished for speaking without permission’ and that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension is a deliberate attempt to silence her.
The organisation argued that the Senate’s decision violates Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of expression.
Additionally, SERAP contends that the suspension contradicts Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which explicitly protect free speech.
The organisation further asserts that the punishment has a ‘chilling effect’ on other lawmakers, discouraging them from freely expressing their views for fear of similar repercussions.
Moreover, SERAP emphasised that the Senate’s action undermines the rights of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents, who duly elected her to represent them in the legislature.
SERAP also referenced the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, which states that any restrictions on free speech must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate in a democratic society.
SERAP, through its legal representatives Kolawole Oluwadare and Adelanke Aremo, insists that the Senate must uphold the rule of law rather than suppress dissent.
The organisation emphasised that the right to freedom of expression is not just a personal right but a ‘cornerstone of democracy’ that ensures transparency and accountability in governance.
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The lawsuit highlights that the Senate Standing Orders 2023 cannot override the constitutional and international protections of free speech.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.
However, the outcome of this legal challenge could set a significant precedent for the protection of lawmakers’ rights and the broader issue of freedom of expression in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
