Any official investigation by security services into Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attendance at the Inter-Parliamentary Union, or IPU, gathering in New York could cause needless embarrassment for Nigeria, according to human rights attorney Femi Falana.
Falana’s remark follows Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s claims that the senator’s conduct degraded Nigeria’s government and people after Akpoti-Uduaghan informed the international organization that she had been suspended.
Akpabio was recently accused of sexually harassing the female lawmaker.
The accusation was made while she and the Senate president were fighting over seating arrangements in the red chamber.
As a result of the fiasco, Senator Natasha was later suspended from the Senate for egregious misconduct.
Speaking on the suspension at the IPU meeting on March 11, she informed the global organization that the purpose of the measure was to keep her quiet about the claims of sexual harassment.
According to reports, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) have opened an investigation into the Kogi senator’s attendance at the IPU summit in New York without a formal nomination.
Falana, however, cautioned in a statement released on Sunday that the security forces’ investigation could subject the nation to unwarranted humiliation and unjustified mockery.
Lastly, it is well known that Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, accused Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of defaming the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s government and citizens by informing the public about her suspension from the Senate.
“The official investigation of the circumstances of her trip by security forces will expose Nigeria to needless embarrassment and undeserved ridicule, despite the senate leader’s jaded opinions.”
Therefore, before making the pointless effort to question Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for having the audacity to externalize the “internal affair of the senate,” Falana stated that the SSS and NIA could review the report of the Sani Abacha military junta’s investigation into our unlawful travel.