The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has alleged that Nigerian security officials are planning to arrest her upon her return to Nigeria.
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan who is still in the US, claimed that the move is linked to her participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York on March 11, where she raised concerns about her sexual harassment allegations against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
She said; “I am aware there are plans underway to have me arrested as soon as I arrived Abuja”.
Akpoti-Uduaghan made headlines all over the country after accusing Nigeria’s Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
She reported the matter to the Inter-Parliamentary Union during her speech. According to her, she has been inundated with threats from different quarters since then. she disclosed that after her speech in the event, three Nigerian Embassy officials, led by the Change D’Affaires, attempted to remove her from the venue.
However, she said Parliamentarians from other countries and security personnel thwarted the removal.
Akpoti clarified that she Independently registered for the Conference as a Senator, securing accreditation through the IPU’s mailing list from her previous attendance, she was able to secure approval to attend and personally funded her trip without any official nomination from Nigerian Government.
In her word; “I registered online as a Senator. The suspension does not remove my legitimacy as a Senator. I attended the same programme last year and was already on mailing list. After getting a pass, I bought my own ticket and funded my trip and participate at the event”
9News Nigeria recalls that Akpoti was suspended for 6 months after she submitted a petition to the Senate against Akpabio for alleged sexual harassment.
Speaking at the event, the Kogi Central Senator, said; “On March 6, I was suspended as a Senator illegally because I submitted a petition of sexual harassment against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. I believed that by submitting the petition, he would rescue himself, and both of us would submit to a fair and transparent investigation by the committee of ethics. Undoubtedly, I was silence and suspended.
“I was suspended for six months under the stringent conditions. My security details was withdrawn, all officials working closely with me as a Senator were removed, my salary was cut off, I was barred from appearing anywhere near the National Assembly, and for six months, I was prohibited from introducing myself as a Senator.
“Whether locally in Nigeria or internationally, that would imply that I am here illegally. But I have nowhere else to turn except to speak before you all, because the situation illustrate the reality of women’s rights in political representation. My suspension is not just about me, women make up to 2.8% of Senate out of 109 Senators, only four of us are women”, she said.
Responding, the President of the IPU, Tulia Ackson, promised to ensure that necessary steps are taken regarding the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan that the Nigerian Senate would also be given an opportunity to present its side of story.
-9News Nigeria.
