Ex-Presidential Aide Obono-Obla Condemns Senate’s Six-Month Suspension of Natasha
Former presidential aide, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has criticized the Senate for suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged violations of Senate rules and her accusations of sexual harassment against Senate President Dr. Godswill Akpabio.
Obono-Obla described the penalty as excessive and unjustified, arguing that it is disproportionately longer than similar suspensions in the past.
He recalled that Senators Ali Ndume and Ovie Omo-Agege were each suspended for 90 legislative days under similar circumstances.
Speaking to reprters, he emphasized that the Senate should uphold truth, justice, and the rule of law:
“The Senate, as part of the National Assembly, is constitutionally empowered to make laws for the peace, stability, and good governance of Nigeria. However, past suspensions, such as those of Senator Mohammed Ndume in 2017 and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, were both overturned by the courts, which ruled them unlawful and unconstitutional.”
He further argued that Senate rules limit suspensions to 14 days, and in Omo-Agege’s case, the court nullified the 90-day suspension, reinforcing that the Senate cannot arbitrarily impose lengthy suspensions.
Obono-Obla also stated that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case is already in court, making the Senate’s decision a violation of the legal process since matters under judicial review should not be debated or acted upon by the legislature.
