
Nigeria’s intelligence agencies have launched an inquiry into how suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan managed to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York without official approval.
The investigation, led by the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), aims to uncover who facilitated her accreditation and whether her attendance was intended to undermine Nigeria’s representation.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele raised the issue during a plenary session, stressing that Akpoti-Uduaghan was not part of the country’s sanctioned delegation. He noted that the IPU maintains strict participation guidelines, prompting security agencies to probe whether she secured unauthorized credentials or had external backing.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, currently serving a six-month Senate suspension for alleged misconduct, used the IPU platform to publicly challenge her punishment. She claimed the suspension was retaliation for her segxwal harassment accusations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
"I was suspended illegally for submitting a petition of segxwal harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. Instead of accountability, I was silenced," she declared during the conference. She further alleged that her security detail was withdrawn, her salary stopped, and she was barred from accessing the National Assembly.
In response, the Senate countered her claims in a letter read at the IPU by Rep. Kafilat Ogbara. Signed by Bamidele, the letter stated, "Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and unruly behavior, not because of any segxwal harassment allegations."
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Ethics is set to hold a hearing involving Akpabio, Akpoti-Uduaghan, and other lawmakers to examine the accusations. According to reports, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleges that Akpabio made inappropriate advances during a December 2023 visit to his Uyo residence.
With both the intelligence probe and ethics hearing underway, the political storm surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan continues to intensify — leaving Nigerians watching closely for the outcome.
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