A former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Kaduna State, Mark Jacobs, has expressed his support for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the Senate following her six-month suspension. The Senate acknowledged the senator’s notice to resume her duties but stated that the matter cannot be addressed until the court rules on the issue.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was suspended in March for violating the Senate’s rules and subsequently challenged the decision in court in July. Despite an unsuccessful attempt to resume sitting, she wrote to the Senate last week, informing them of her intention to return. However, the lawmakers decided not to take action on her letter until the court process is concluded.
Mark Jacobs argued that the Senate’s decision is a display of “impunity gone wild” and criticized the upper chamber for double standards. He cited a court verdict that ruled Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension as unconstitutional and emphasized that the Senate should not rely on the court process to delay compliance with its own rules. According to Jacobs, the six-month suspension period has expired, and the senator should be allowed to resume her seat without further delay.
The former commissioner also accused the Senate of frustrating the judicial process by filing numerous objections and preliminary filings, which have stalled the hearing of the substantive issues. He believes that if the Senate has evidence against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the matter should be allowed to proceed in court. By delaying her return, the Senate is denying her the opportunity to perform her duties as a elected representative, despite the expiration of her suspension period.
The developments surrounding Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and attempted return to the Senate have sparked controversy, with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemning the move to bar her resumption as “unconstitutional.” The situation highlights the complexities of the relationship between the legislative and judicial branches of government in Nigeria, and the need for clarity on the rules and procedures governing the discipline of lawmakers. As the court process continues, the outcome of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case is likely to have significant implications for the Senate and the country’s democratic institutions.
