Douglas Ogbankwa, a former Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch, has criticized the Senate’s suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, labeling it a case of “double standards.”
“It is crucial to adhere to the sequence of events. Both parties have engaged in legal disputes in various forms. While she was still involved in court proceedings, the Senate moved forward with her suspension. In my view, that exemplifies double standards,” he stated during an interview with the morning show team on Wednesday.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who serves Kogi Central, was suspended for a duration of six months on March 6, 2025, following a contentious altercation in the Senate chamber.
The Senate accused her of violating its regulations; however, the lawmaker has since contested this decision in court, asserting that her rights and those of her constituents have been infringed upon. Nonetheless, Ogbankwa argued that while the Senator’s behavior in the chamber was inappropriate, the Senate lacks the constitutional authority to impose such a suspension.
“The Senate, as an institution, does not possess the power to suspend Senator Natasha for six months. This is due to the fact that a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not an employee of the Senate. Rather, a senator serves as a representative of their constituents,” he explained.
He further noted that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, clearly stipulates that each of Nigeria’s 109 senatorial districts must have representation at all times, a principle he claims the suspension violates.
Referencing past cases, the lawyer recalled a 2017 Court of Appeal ruling that annulled the suspension of members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, reinforcing the notion that elected legislators cannot be excluded from parliament by their peers. “The relationship between a member of the legislative body and the legislative body is not one of employer and employee,” he contended.
Simultaneously, Ogbankwa criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan for disregarding the Senate rules during their confrontation. He emphasized that according to parliamentary procedure, a lawmaker is required to occupy the seat designated by the Senate President prior to making any contributions on the floor.
“She made a significant error. She should have initially proceeded to the seat assigned to her by the Senate President and from that position addressed the Senate President. In any event, the formal language of the parliament must be employed when speaking to the leader of the house,” he remarked.
The most recent development occurred a few months after Akpoti-Uduaghan asserted that she would return to the Senate on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in accordance with a court ruling, despite an appeal from Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
She attempted to re-enter the National Assembly on the same day but was unable to access the chambers.
As of September 4, marking six months since her suspension, the Kogi lawmaker communicated with the Senate, expressing her intention to resume her duties.
However, in a letter from the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly, Yahaya Danzaria, dated September 4, 2025, the Senate acknowledged Akpoti-Uduaghan’s notification regarding her planned return on September 4.
The upper chamber indicated that her case would be addressed by the lawmaker pending the resolution of the court case.
