A United Nations Universal Periodic Review group, the People’s Right to Life Development Foundation, has called for the banning of the 10 Principal Officers of the Senate from entering the US following the alleged blatant abuse of the rule of law and rights of democratic representation in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a letter written to the Congressional Black Caucus, of the United States of America Congress, signed by the Chairman Board of Trustees, Comrade Ifot Nathaniel, the body decried the falling standard of the Nigerian Senate with respect to administration of judicial process as the highest law making body in the country.
The CSO also accused the Senate of operating double standard and abuse of the rule of law, which, according to them, is capable of truncating the country’s democracy.
Citing a case of injustice bordering on its failure to inaugurate a Senator-Elect Bassey Etim, the group wondered why the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who took oath of allegiance to uphold the Constitution on Nigerian and do justice to all manner of persons will violate the law by discriminating against Etim despite the subsisting court order.
The development, according to the group, poses a dangerous precedence that if not checked may result to grave human rights abuse with attendant effect on the diplomatic community.
The group, while condemning the continuous disobedience of lawful court order to swear-in Etim as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, further called on the US Congress to ban the leadership of the Nigerian Senate from entering the US.
On February 27, 2017, a Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in suit number FHC/UY/C8/1087/2015 set aside the election that brought in Senator Bassey Akpan to represent Akwa-Ibom North-East Senatorial District and declared Etim as the authentic senator representing the district.
In the letter with reference number PRLDF/42/20/Vol.1/39, dated July 7, 2017 and signed by Comrade Ifot Nathaniel, the BOT Chairman; Comrade Ali Abacha, National Secretary; and Chief Oni Emmanuel, Zonal Co-ordinator, South-West, the CSO accused the Senate leadership of disregard for the rule of law.
The organisation said: “Sir, four months after the court directed that Bassey Etim should be Sworn in as a Senator of the Federal republic of Nigeria, the leadership of the Senate ignored the court order, but rather continue to allow the sacked senator to participate in the activities of the senate as a Senator.
“This act of impunity and cabal is un-becoming of the highest law making body of Nigeria. If left unchecked and without any sanction on the leadership of the Senate, it may create a dangerous precedent that will not only derail Nigeria’s democracy but will also create untold abuse of human dignity in Nigeria. Accordingly, we call for a severe sanction of the senate leadership including banning of the leadership the Nigerian senate from entering the United States of America in order to serve as deterrent to others.”
They said the Senate has refused to obey court order, alleging conflict of interest in the senate.
The body said: “It has since been discovered that there is a conflict of interest. The Senate President has strong ties with the ousted senator particularly, as the lawyer to the ousted senator is also a lawyer to the senate president who was standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal over false asset declaration. The sacked senator has been boasting that the. Senate. President cannot remove him because of his immense contribution to his emergence as the Senate president, court judgement against him notwithstanding.”
The CSO’s position is supported by various human rights groups, legal luminaries and concerned Nigerians noting that injustice to one is injustice to all, with a view to serve human dignity and Nigeria from the impunity and dangerous threat which according to them may spell doom to the nation’s democracy.