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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, demanding the reversal of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s alleged unlawful suspension.
In a statement on Sunday, the rights group announced that it had taken legal action at the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge Akpabio’s refusal to lift the suspension. SERAP claims the move was a punishment for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression.
The lawsuit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/498/2025, seeks a court order compelling Akpabio to revoke the suspension and restore Akpoti-Uduaghan’s full legislative rights, entitlements, and privileges. Additionally, SERAP is requesting a perpetual injunction preventing the Senate from imposing further disciplinary actions on her for expressing her views.
The advocacy group argues that applying Sections 6(1)(2) of the Senate Rules and the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended) to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan violates her fundamental rights and disenfranchises her constituents.
SERAP contends that her suspension was politically motivated, noting that she was barred from the Senate for six months after reportedly speaking without permission and rejecting a new seating arrangement. The suspension also led to the withholding of her salary and allowances, and she was forbidden from identifying as a senator.
The group asserts that penalising her for expressing her views is unlawful, unnecessary, and excessive, warning that it could have a chilling effect on other lawmakers’ ability to freely participate in Senate discussions.
SERAP’s legal team, led by Kolawole Oluwadare and Adelanke Aremo, argued that no senator should face punishment for peacefully exercising their freedom of expression. They urged the court to ensure that any enforcement of Senate Standing Orders aligns with constitutional and international human rights standards.
A date is yet to be set for the hearing of the case.
Tensions between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio gained public attention when she resisted a seating reassignment during a Senate session. However, their conflict escalated on February 28, 2025, when she accused Akpabio of making inappropriate advances towards her during a visit to his residence in December 2023.
She claimed the incident occurred when she traveled to Akwa Ibom with her husband and associates to attend Akpabio’s birthday celebration, which coincided with her own. According to her, the visit began at Akpabio’s home in Ikot Ekpene before moving to his Uyo residence in the evening. It was there, she alleged, that the Senate President made inappropriate remarks and gestures toward her.
Following the allegation, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a defamation lawsuit against Akpabio. The Senate President has denied the accusations, calling them baseless and an embarrassment to both the Senate and Nigeria.
