Nigeria’s intelligence agencies, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), have launched an investigation into how Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan attended the recent Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York without official authorization from the Nigerian government.
According to security sources, the investigation aims to determine how she gained access to the event, who facilitated her trip and accreditation, and whether her presence at the meeting was intended to embarrass Nigeria.
Concerns Over Unauthorized Attendance
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele raised concerns during last Thursday’s plenary, stressing that Akpoti-Uduaghan was not part of Nigeria’s official delegation. “International parliamentary organizations like the IPU operate based on strict guidelines, which require only officially designated representatives to attend and speak on behalf of their countries,” Bamidele said.
He noted that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s presence at the event violated established protocols, making her participation a serious concern.
The IPU, founded in 1889, is a global organization that brings together representatives from 181 sovereign states to discuss issues related to democracy, human rights, peace, security, and sustainable development. Each national parliament selects its delegation to attend IPU meetings, making unauthorized attendance a potential breach of both Nigerian legislative protocols and IPU regulations.
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Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Complaint to IPU
During the IPU meeting, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan used the platform to speak about her recent six-month suspension from the Nigerian Senate. She alleged that she was suspended for submitting a petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
“I am not here to bring shame to my country; I am here to bring help to the women of our country,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said at the event.
She further explained: “On March 6, I was suspended as a Senator—illegally—because I submitted a petition of sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. I believed that by submitting the petition, he would recuse himself, and both of us would submit to a fair and transparent investigation. Unfortunately, I was silenced and suspended.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan described her suspension as a reflection of the struggles faced by women in Nigerian politics. “Women make up only 2.8% of the Senate. Out of 109 senators, only four of us are women,” she lamented.
She also claimed that her suspension came with harsh conditions, including the withdrawal of her security detail, removal of her aides, and restriction from identifying herself as a Senator both locally and internationally.
Her speech at the IPU conference drew international attention, with IPU President Tulia Ackson promising that the organization would look into the matter. However, she also stated that the Nigerian Senate would be given the opportunity to present its position before any action is taken.
Nigerian Senate Responds
Following Akpoti-Uduaghan’s complaint at the IPU meeting, the Nigerian Senate issued an official response, refuting her allegations. The statement, read by the Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Honorable Kafilat Ogbara, described the senator’s claims as misleading.
The letter, signed by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, stated: “Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and unruly behavior, not as a result of allegations of sexual harassment or assault. The Senate firmly refutes the deliberate misinformation being circulated by certain media organizations regarding her suspension.”
According to the Senate, her suspension was due to her persistent disregard for Senate Standing Orders and had nothing to do with her claims of harassment.
Senate Ethics Committee to Investigate Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions (SCEPPP) is set to investigate the sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Senate Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwebonyi confirmed that both Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan would testify before the committee. “All parties involved would appear before the committee, including the Senate President. His testimony will be recorded, along with those of other senators who were present at the time of the alleged incident,” Nwebonyi said in an interview with Channels Television.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleged that Akpabio sexually harassed her during a visit to his residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in December 2023. She claimed that during the visit, Akpabio held her hand, led her around his house, and made inappropriate advances—even in the presence of her husband.