Natasha and Akpabio
The Nigerian Senate had suspended Natasha over alleged gross misconduct.
However, Justice Binta Nyako in her ruling ordered her recall, describing the six-month suspension as excessive.
Nyako faulted the provision of Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules as well as section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & Privileges Act, and declared both as overreaching.
She held that the two less failed to specify the maximum period that a serving lawmaker could be suspended from office, adding that since lawmakers have a total of 181 days to sit in every legislative circle, Natasha’s suspension meant that she would be barred from responsibilities of representing her constituents for about 180 days.
The judge acknowledged that the Senate had the power to punish erring members but held that it must be excessive to the extent of depriving the constituents of their right to be represented.
She ruled the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in order when have denied the Natasha the opportunity to speak during plenary when she was not on her official seat.
However, Nyako dismissed Akpabio’s argument that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the suit on the basis that it bordered on an internal affair of the Red Chamber.
Meanwhile , in another development, Justice Nyako found Natasha guilty of contempt for contravening the court’s order and publishing a satirical apology to Akpabio on her Facebook page on April 7.
The judge held that the said apology, was a mockery of a gag order imposed on the warring parties by the court
Natasha was, therefore, ordered by the court to publish an apology to it in two national dailies and also on her Facebook page within seven days.
She was also ordered to pay a N5 million fine but declined to issue any order in Akpabio’s favour despite initiating the contempt process.
