*Akpoti-Uduaghan: Suspension Does Not Withdraw My Legitimacy As Senator
*To Challenge Action In Court
A FORMER senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has disclosed how he narrowly escaped being suspended from the senate for six months in 2018 for disclosing the salaries and allowances of federal lawmakers.
Writing on his X account, Sani said he would have faced suspension if not for the intervention of then senate president, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
“When I publicly disclosed the salaries and allowances of the senators, it nearly earned me a six months suspension if not for divine intervention, Saraki and Ekwerenmadu’s immediate rescue.
“Just know that if you are there and you blow whistle too loudly, you will be ‘On your Own,’ no senator go bring him head or neck to support you.”
Recall that in March 2018, Sani disclosed that senators received N13.5million monthly as running costs, in addition to N200million allocated for constituency projects.
His revelation was met with backlash from his colleagues, as lawmakers’ salaries are typically kept confidential and away from public scrutiny.
His current disclosure came in the wake of the Red Chamber’s recent six months suspension of the senator representing Kogi Central, Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following her February 20 altercation with Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over sitting arrangement.
She had on February 28 claimed during a television interview that her troubles in the senate started after she rejected alleged sexual advances from Akpabio.
Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan has vowed to challenge her suspension in court, which according to her Counsel, Victor Giwa, was in violation of a court order.
Giwa said the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges acted in violation of a court order that restrained it from taking further action on the matter, pending the determination of a motion on notice.
He insisted: “The suspension is void; it cannot even take any effect. The suspension is illegal, because there is a court order that restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from taking further action.
“The committee disobeyed a valid court order that was served on them, making a mockery of the chamber that is supposed to uphold the law.
“We are going back to court. The case is coming up in about two weeks and we will inform the court that despite being served, including the Senate President, they still acted in violation of the order by suspending the plaintiff.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan has described her suspension as unjust, saying: “This injustice against me will not be sustained. I will fight against it.”
In a social media post later, she said the suspension would not diminish her legitimacy as a senator, adding: “Against the culture of silence, intimidation and victim-shaming, my unjust suspension from the Nigerian senate invalidates the principles of natural justice, fairness and equity.
“The illegal suspension does not withdraw my legitimacy as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I will continue to use my duly elected position to serve my constituents and country to the best of my ability till 2027… and beyond.”
