By Jemimah Wellington, JKNMedia Reporter
SENATE President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has entered a legal fray concerning the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi, the representative for Bauchi Central Senatorial District, by addressing a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana.
Through his legal representative, Kalu Uche, also a SAN, Akpabio refuted the accusation of unilateral action in Ningi’s suspension, questioning why Ningi’s lawyers attributed sole responsibility to him.
Akpabio emphasized that as the Presiding Officer of the Senate, his role adheres to the established legal matters mandate of the Senate.
Expressing perplexity over the characterization of the Senate’s decision as unilateral, Akpabio demanded clarification on the alleged unconstitutionality of suspending legislative members, as alluded to in Ningi’s petition.
He reiterated that the Ningi’s suspension followed due process as outlined in the Senate’s rule book, stressing its legality and constitutional validity.
The response from Akpabio’s team asserted that the decision to suspend Ningi was a collective one made by the Senate during its plenary session and not solely attributed to Akpabio.
Moreover, they challenged Falana to provide pertinent legal precedents referenced in the petition, emphasizing the importance of context in legal decisions.
In light of threats of legal action and petitions to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), Akpabio’s counsel highlighted the privileges accorded to legislators within legislative proceedings, stressing that Akpabio’s role Senate President transcends his profession as a lawyer.
