A former member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Misan Ukubeyinje, has urged the Senate to immediately review the
six-month suspension clamped on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central Senatorial District), describing it as legislative rascality in the highest order, unconstitutional, biased and oppressive.
He said it had clearly shown that with the suspension,
the Senate had shot itself in the foot and put the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in the international spotlight and also put the integrity of the 10th Senate to question.
In a statement signed and issued to newsmen in Warri, Delta State, Ukubeyinje, at various times State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources and Commissioner for Lands, Surveys and Urban Development, declared that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Rights and Privileges and indeed, the Senate had acted against the extant rules of the Red Chamber as regards the protection of the rights of senators under threat and intimidation.
Ukubeyinje, also a legal practitioner, said instead of following the rules, it was unfortunate that in this particular instant, the Senate acted in unjustifiably shielding the Senate President, over the allegation of sexual harassment, intimidation and victimisation levelled against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Ukubeyinje, who urged the Senate to immediately review its suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, said "she had done nothing wrong by speaking out against her perceived oppression, intimidation, victimisation and sexual harassment."
The legal practitioner argued that, "it is unconstitutional to suspend a senator more than 14 days for wrongdoing. By the Rules of Senate Order 67 (4), the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act 2018, a member of any Legislative House guilty of contempt of the House cannot be suspended for more than 48 hours."
According to him, "in the instant case of Ali Ndume Vs Senate which was decided by the Court of Appeal in 2018, it was held that a Senator cannot be suspended for more than 14 days; the case of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is also supportive of this legal stand."harassment."
Furthermore, he said, "Senator Natasha, whilst pursuing her rights before the Senate by raising Order 10 which was ignored and submitting a written and detailed petition, it is expected of the Distinguished Senate to protect her rights and thoroughly investigate all issues surrounding the grievances before it and come up with a detailed report which will be fully deliberated upon with the Senate President recusing himself.
"Rather, the Senate dismissed her petition bordering on sexual harassment and intimidation, claiming sub judice, citing the suit filled by the wife to the Senate President, thereby manifestly perpetuating double standards and approbating and reprobating, wrongly assuming jurisdiction by suspending her beyond their powers."