Senate hails Court judgment on Natasha’s suspension
…says verdict affirms parliamentary autonomy The Senate on Monday reacted to the judgement of the Court of Appeal which ruled that the Red Chamber acted within its constitutional powers when it
…says verdict affirms parliamentary autonomy
The Senate on Monday reacted to the judgement of the Court of Appeal which ruled that the Red Chamber acted within its constitutional powers when it suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged misconduct.
In an unanimous judgment a three-member panel of the appellate court held that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s parliamentary privilege and constitutional rights were not breached by her suspension.
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The court held that, the Senate has power to discipline any erring member and that, in the instant case, Natasha’s fundamental right was never breached as she claimed.
Justice Abba Bello Mohammed who delivered the ruling held that, by virtue of provision of Section 66(4) of the Senate’s standing rules, the Senate has the power to invoke disciplinary action to ensure orderliness in the conduct of Senate’s proceedings.
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Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, in a statement said the "judgment decisively reinforces parliamentary autonomy and separation of powers, confirming that the Senate’s power to discipline its members is constitutionally protected and justiciable only where there is a clear breach of the Constitution or statute.”
Adaramodu further noted that "crucially, the Court held that lawful disciplinary action by the Senate does not infringe a member’s fundamental rights; such rights are not activated outside compliance with Senate rules governing participation.
“In effect, members must submit to internal legislative discipline, and courts will not intervene unless there is a demonstrable constitutional violation."
