NewStats: 3,263,968 , 8,182,108 topics. Date: Monday, 09 June 2025 at 06:01 AM 5u511q

EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria launches probe into Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s participation at IPU meeting

Nigeria’s internal and external intelligence agencies are probing how Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, secured access to the recent Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York without being nominated by her country to attend, TIMES can authoritatively report.

A high-ranking istration official and two top security officials involved in the inquiry said the State Security Service (SSS), in collaboration with the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), are working to determine how Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan attended the international meeting without approval, who facilitated her trip and accreditation, and whether her participation was orchestrated by interest groups to embarrass Nigeria, its government and its people.

The officials asked not to be named because they were not yet authorised to discuss the matter with the media.

Did Akpoti-Uduagan breach the official procedure?

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 , 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.

At the meeting, she also raised allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

In response, IPU President ,Tulia Ackson, said the parliamentary body would investigate the matter, but would also allow the Nigerian Senate to present its side of the story.

However, a Nigerian delegate to the IPU meeting, Kafilat Ogbara, countered Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims when she (Ogbara) addressed journalists at the UN secretariat, a day after the former ’s attendance at the IPU meeting.

Mrs Ogbara, who chairs the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, read a letter from Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, stating that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was due to violations of Senate Standing Rules during plenary sessions, rather than retaliation for her allegations against Mr Akpabio.

Questioning Apoti-Uduagan’s attendance

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s presence at the IPU meeting without official authorisation from her home country is raising concerns among political actors and security agencies.

Some analysts have questioned how she secured invitation for such an international engagement without the necessary nomination and approval by Nigeria.

During last Thursday’s plenary, Mr Bamidele questioned the legitimacy of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s presence at the IPU meeting on the grounds that she was not part of Nigeria’s official delegation.

He emphasised that the IPU, like other international parliamentary organisations, operates based on established rules and protocols which suggested that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan should not have been allowed into the meeting.

“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 hip of IPU shall be on the basis of national parliamentary organisation. In other words, there are no individual . It is the parliament of sovereign nations that are 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,” he said.

Similarly, Jimoh Ibrahim, chair of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Activities, in a statement on Friday, said Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan had no official authorisation to represent Nigeria at the IPU meeting and that her attendance was not approved by the Nigerian Senate or its Inter-Parliamentary Committee.

Key focus of the inquiry by SSS and NIA

The SSS-NIA collaborative investigation is believed to have been triggered by complaints by the Nigerian senate.

Sources told TIMES that the intelligence agencies are interested in identifying whether Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan obtained unauthorised credentials or if external facilitators aided her participation at the meeting.

The officials also said the investigation would review whether her participation at the meeting breached any IPU regulations or the Nigerian National Assembly protocols.

The inquiry will also determine if Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statements at the event misrepresented Nigeria’s official stance and whether individuals or organisations helped her secure attendance without the government’s knowledge or approval.

It is unclear how the security agencies will proceed with their findings upon the conclusion of their investigation.

https://www.timesng.com/news/top-news/781188-exclusive-nigeria-launches-probe-into-natasha-akpoti-uduaghans-participation-at-ipu-meeting.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJDTGNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXH7-AG_A8KtvmXSB4upfKPD5tVZDvW6rQpMf5jxkrlxOecsaGI3iWQFtQ_aem_7jxQ6Fsk41ZPF4n0kXMKNA

Just another serial blackmailing news ......


She said she tendered a petition and she was thinking that her petition will have the senate president step down.

Why would a woman go all out to bring down another man simply because she wants to use Akpabio to exercise her grounds.

She's forgetting that, she will become irrelevant if she pulls another man down. Nobody will do any deal with her. Her political career will die off.

Sentiments aside, politics isn't about emotions..... Already, people are careful around her.

They're doing everything but give this woman a fair hearing so who be mumu ? This whole shenanigans is proving her case of witch-hunt right every damn time even though there's a possibility that she's lying and that's why there's always a process to these things so why don't they want to follow that process of fair hearing ?

.

The way this issue is being handled is absurd. First off, it’s clear the government is more concerned about protecting its own interests than about tackling real problems. If the Nigerian intelligence agencies are truly incapable of protecting their own government protocols, then they need to be fired immediately. How could a woman like Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended for raising valid concerns about misconduct, manage to attend an international meeting without the proper clearance? The fact that she was even able to address the IPU at all shows there’s a serious failure on the part of Nigeria’s leadership to manage basic internal processes.

Where was this investigation when accusations of sexual harassment against the Senate President surfaced? No investigation into those claims, but now the government is scrambling because a woman—who’s already facing political persecution—seated herself at an international forum to raise her concerns. This stinks of political games, not genuine national interest. The government needs to focus on the real issues—not harass those who dare speak out, especially when their rights have been violated.

If the Senate and intelligence agencies spent less time worrying about trivial matters and more time dealing with the real abuses happening under their watch, we might actually make some progress.

Apkabio said on the record(video), she is no longer a senator if she is on suspension. So did she attend the IPU as a private citizen. Or was Apkabio ignorant of what it means to be a suspended senator ? Or is the government going after a private citizen who is exercising her freedom of expression. Anyway you twist it. It will further incriminate Akapbio or it will incriminate the government.

People seem to forget that Senator Natasha Akpoti is not beneath anyone in the Red Chamber—she holds the exact same electoral mandate as Senate President Akpabio. They are both Senators, equal in status before the law and the people who elected them. Akpabio’s position is purely istrative; he moderates proceedings, not rules over elected voices. He is not the president of Kogi Central, and certainly not the political superior of Senator Natasha. Her seat was won fairly and reflects the voice of her constituency. Unless there is a new election, that mandate remains hers. Trying to muzzle or belittle her is not only unconstitutional—it is dangerous to democracy. She is not tarnishing her image by speaking; she is fulfilling her oath. The more they attempt to silence her, the louder her voice becomes. She is the people’s voice—and that voice does not need permission from Akpabio to thunder.

K

Cheers.

Probe should also be launch into the failure of the government in the past few years as outline by Raye on X, let the energy be on the same wavelength.

Maxymilliano:


https://www.timesng.com/news/top-news/781188-exclusive-nigeria-launches-probe-into-natasha-akpoti-uduaghans-participation-at-ipu-meeting.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJDTGNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXH7-AG_A8KtvmXSB4upfKPD5tVZDvW6rQpMf5jxkrlxOecsaGI3iWQFtQ_aem_7jxQ6Fsk41ZPF4n0kXMKNA

Let her be

Bello Turji and his cohorts still walking free , they should gettat arraherrrr

Her husband ed to ridicule this woman. If the husband was I real man, he shouldn't have allowed that woman to head to Arise TV for that interview. He should have called and scheduled a meeting with Godswill Akpabio one-on-one or take the matter to the Senate Committee and discuss it internally.

Note: I'm not saying Akpabio is innocent of the accusation, but blowing it on a national television station is the problem here.

Ewedu government is launching probe of the disgrace they brought Nigeria.

Meanwhile the idiots that defected in rivers State whose sits should be declared vacant have been aided by the agbado controlled supreme Court.

Never seen a government more useless than the present one.

Good.

This season film is now getting too long.

Over a matter that cannot be substantiated because it's a mere allegation that cannot be proven. It's better we stopped renewing new episodes and end this now.

But they did not launch probe into the harassment scandal in the senate?

This is good let it go international and gain more publicity for the national disgrace and woman rights abuses the senate has become. Our democracy is being tested publicly now.

A nation ruled by morons.

I'm not a Simp that can easily be manipulated by women with their emotional game, but Naija a.k.a Bongo is a laughing stock. Always chasing rat when their house is burning.
Globally, accusations of sexual assault is treated with seriousness be it against a woman or man. But because naija is a crude nation with stewpid leaders n followers, they will always act like stewpid people.

Nothing to make out of this....as far as i am concerned.

Since you cannot do the needful to serve justice at home, you will keep ridiculing yourself in international community.
I wish Trump deals with you people, the way is ridiculing others.

Iweakbro:


Shut up! She is a serial protocol breacher. All these weak men will side with a woman because she is fair or beautiful.

we know where men who are weak comes from ,the ones that swore to worship one man forever.
the ones whom even in this present age and technology still practice slavery .

It is always good to be calculative when picking a fight.
I know women throw punches any how without aiming their opponent very well and as they are throwing the punches they will be crying along.
Fighting your Superiors is not the best. Now she is adding more problems to herself.

I don't know if this kind of a woman will listen to her Husband

Natasha hop’ these people for brokos!

So, the government was embarrassed by her actions?

They should have intervened swiftly before the matter became an international embarrassment.

Never you underestimate the power of women,who has run the kind of rubber stamp senate Akpabio is running. He should be kicked out

I like the fact that Nigeria corruption is going globally and becoming something of global interest.

This small issue can become something unquenchable..... Because Natasha will keep spilling out the evil and deeds going on secretly in the Senate and Nigerian politics as large.

Another one is the NYSC girl 😂

The World President Trump is also watching, and will soon send some missiles to the North 😂

That's how she continues to defy rules and break protocol and later cry witch-hunt.

She blackmail men to get her way go there. She think say she dey attractive as she Born 3 or 4 kids for 4 men

I NEVER trust a woman who claims she was sexually harassed without evidence.
Besides, there is absolutely nothing legally wrong with a man wooing a woman.
She also has a history of trying to destroy men by suing them or accusing them of sexual harassing her.
I hear she even entrapped her husband into marriage by suing him for delaying their marriage and impregnating her without the intention of marrying her. The unsuccessful harassment accusations of other men makes me not trust this woman.

That woman likes by-ing protocols. She believes in herself as is so beautiful. .

I believe she was angry with Senate President and blew out of control bcoz the man was indiscriminately applying same seating arrangement protocol that applies to others to her.

That was the genesis of the crisis.

If Akpabio had continuously given her the expected or entitled waivers, she would have been cool, and there would not have been any drama.

Truth is, it's very hard to trust both parties due to previous records. And since there is no viable evidence of anything, this noice and drama from the lady is a waste of time.

Such a cunny woman.

The security agencies should not get themselves involved in this case to avoid embarrassing Nigeria. It's bad as it is don't make it worse.

Iweakbro:



Slow fool I'm from Delta. If he harassed her, why wait until she breached house protocol to mention it? Why also breach the IPU protocols for her cheap blackmail? Weak maggot.

only cowards deny where they come from .
I did not even mention any area

Iweakbro:


Shut up! She is a serial protocol breacher. All these weak men will side with a woman because she is fair or beautiful.

continue barking sir, you're irrelevant in the scheme of things while my own is to keep telling your idîot masters what will play out of which I have been right all along since I don't operate by emotions but rather processes and history. So, keep barking sir