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As allegations of impending arrest by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continue to generate controversy, the Nigerian Senate has dismissed the claims, saying they have no reason to engage with the Senator on the matter.
Persecondnews recalls that Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, alleged on March 16 that Nigerian security officials planned to arrest her upon her return to Nigeria.
She claimed the move is linked to her participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York on 11 March, where she raised concerns about her suspension from the Senate and sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The senator who is still in the US after the IPU meeting said: “I am aware there are plans underway to have me arrested as soon as I arrive Abuja.”
She also alleged that shortly after her speech at the IPU meeting, the Senate President sent three officials led by the Chargé d’affairs of the Nigerian Embassy in New York to forcibly remove her from the United Nations premises during the IPU meeting.
She said: “The Senate President Akpabio sent three staff headed by the Chargè D’Affairs of the Nigerian embassy in New York to evacuate me from the United Nations premises right after my speech.
“I was rescued by parliamentarians from other countries and the security.”
Reacting to the allegations, Senate spokesman, Sen. Adeyemi Adaramodu, in a press statement on Monday, said the senator is looking for her lost content creation needle in a haystack.
He said: “The Senate President and the Nigerian Senate have no reason to join issues with her anymore.
“If she is being haunted by her unguarded vituperations against Nigeria at the IPU in faraway New York, she should spare the Senate, which is not ready to be her accomplice in such a sordid voyage.”
Persecondnews had reported that Akpoti-Uduaghan participated in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York on 11 March, where she raised concerns about her suspension from the Senate and sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.
She alleged that the suspension was politically motivated to silence her for speaking out against misconduct in the legislative chamber and thereafter sought international intervention.
In response, IPU President Tulia Ackson pledged to investigate the matter while also giving the Nigerian Senate an opportunity to share its perspective.
However, Nigerian delegate to the IPU meeting, Kafilat Ogbara, countered Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims when she addressed journalists at the UN secretariat, a day after the IPU meeting.
Ogbara, who is the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, presented a letter from Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, which stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was a result of violating Senate Standing Rules during plenary sessions, and not due to her allegations against Akpabio.
The disagreement between Akpabio and Natasha began on Thursday, February 20, after her seat was reassigned due to a reshuffle caused by opposition members defecting to the majority wing without prior information.
She declined to move to her newly assigned seat, sparking a heated debate.
Persecondnews had reported that the Senate, after reviewing the report of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Affairs regarding Natasha’s conduct, imposed a six-month suspension on her on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
The committee recommended that her salary and security details should be withdrawn during the six-month suspension period.
It was also recommended that she should not be seen anywhere around the National Assembly during the period.
The suspension, which a majority of senators voted to uphold, was announced by Akpabio himself during a plenary session.
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