The State Security Service (SSS), in collaboration with the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), will begin investigations into Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attendance at the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Union in New York on Monday, March 11, 2025, reports Premium Times.
The security and intelligence units want to understand who and how the Kogi Central lawmaker was approved to attend the IPU, how her trip was facilitated without the knowledge of the security units, if her attendance at the IPU was instigated by interest groups in order to embarrass Nigeria in the international community.
Video of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the IPU on Monday had circulated the internet, where she reported the Nigerian Senate of suspending her because she made sexual harassment claims against the Senate President, Senator God’swill Akpabio.
After her speech, the IPU president Tulia Ackson had pointed out that her complaint was not in the agenda of the meeting, however, it has been taken note of, and they will have to hear from the Nigerian Senate.
The next day, a Nigerian delegate to the IPU meeting, Kafilat Ogbara who Chairs the Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, took the United Nations media to set the records straight on why Senator Natasha was suspended, against what she had said at the IPU.
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Mrs. Ogbara read an official letter from the Senate signed by the Senate Leader, senator Opeyemi Bamidele, where the reasons for Senator Natasha’s suspension were stated clearly, against what the media had misconstrued or peddled.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s presence at the IPU meeting has been questioned by political analysts and her colleagues at the National Assembly.
Questions about how she was allowed into the IPU meeting where participants go as delegates assigned by their country have been raised.
Questions of who approved her going there, and even if she was approved, did she represent the interest of Nigeria or she represented her selfish interest?
During plenary on Thursday, senator Bamidele spoke saying;
“Outside of Nigeria, or outside of this Senate, when it comes to our inter-parliamentary engagements, every one of those organisations, from Inter-Parliamentary Union, to Commonwealth Parliament, to African Union Parliament, to ECOWAS Parliament, everyone is run on the basis of rules and regulations, drawn from the protocols establishing those organisations.
“And that’s why the Inter-Parliamentary Union president, two days ago, after listening to our colleague, Distinguished Senator Natasha, had to also go by their rule. One, that the issue that she raised was outside of the agenda of the meeting. Number two, having heard her, it would also be important to listen to the other side because they are all guided by rules.
“And also, let me emphasise that section 1 (1) of the law establishing the Inter-Parliamentary Union itself makes it clear that membership of IPU shall be on the basis of national parliamentary organisation. In other words, there are no individual members. It is the parliament of sovereign nations that are members of IPU, and those who attend those meetings on behalf of their parliaments are designated delegates.
“So, if for any reason one of our colleagues, who was not even supposed to be there, if she were to have gone by the rule of this Senate and the decision of this Senate, found her way to the place, sat on the seat meant for Nigeria, and spoke for herself rather than for Nigeria, you know, that’s another issue altogether.”
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, chair of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Activities, also noted in a statement on Friday, that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was never officially authorised to represent Nigeria at the IPU meeting, that the Senate or its Inter-Parliamentary Committee never approved her attendance.
Whether Senator Natasha Akpoti bypassed the official procedures, below is what Premium Times notes:
The IPU, a global parliamentary organisation, has strict rules governing representations and operations. Participation at the global gathering of lawmakers is restricted to official delegates from member parliaments, according to IPU rules.
Delegates are typically nominated by their country and their details officially submitted to the IPU Secretariat before the meeting. Delegates will thereafter receive accreditation based on their parliamentary status and are then issued access credentials.
For Nigeria, which operates a bicameral legislature, the delegation specifically consists of selected senators, House of Representatives members, and parliamentary officials. Only accredited delegates can occupy official seats and speak on behalf of their respective countries. In rare instances, individuals may attend as observers, but such attendance requires explicit approval from both the IPU and the attendees’ home countries’ delegation.
Nigeria believes Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan did not follow the required protocols before gaining access to the IPU meeting on 11 March, where she addressed her suspension from the Nigerian Senate, alleging that it was politically motivated to silence her for speaking out against misconduct in the legislative chamber.
