- Senator Ibrahim dismissed Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition to the IPU, calling it “dead on arrival”
- He clarified that Akpoti-Uduaghan lacked the authority to represent Nigeria at the UN forum
- Tensions between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate leadership escalated over her suspension and claims of political victimisation
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Chairman of the Senate Interparliamentary Committee, has strongly criticised the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, dismissing her petition to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) as "dead on arrival."
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, March 13, Ibrahim responded to Akpoti-Uduaghan's escalation of her dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which she had taken to the international stage at a UN forum hosted by the IPU.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Akpabio of political victimisation, following her suspension on March 6 after a public altercation over a seating arrangement in the Senate, which she claimed stemmed from previous sexual advances.
Tensions between the two escalated further when Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared on national television, accusing Akpabio of attempting to punish her for rejecting alleged sexual advances.
At the Women in Parliament session during the IPU meeting at the United Nations in New York, Akpoti-Uduaghan called for international intervention to hold the Nigerian Senate accountable for what she described as politically motivated actions.
However, Senator Ibrahim swiftly refuted her claims, arguing that her petition was unfounded and that she lacked the standing to bring such a case.
He pointed out that IPU membership was granted to countries, not individuals, and as a result, Akpoti-Uduaghan, a suspended senator, was not a member of the Union.
"I can categorically state that a petition can only be lodged against another member state by a member state. This means that the IPU cannot entertain petitions from individuals who are not members. While Nigeria is a member of the IPU, Senator Natasha is not," Ibrahim explained.
The senator also clarified that Akpoti-Uduaghan did not have the approval of the Nigerian Senate to attend the IPU session or represent the country at the United Nations.
"As Chairman of the Interparliamentary Committee, I did not authorise or approve Natasha’s attendance at the IPU on behalf of Nigeria. During my time as interim president of the IPU in Geneva in 2023, I became very familiar with how the Union operates, and it’s clear that her actions cannot be considered under the IPU's rules," he added.
Akpabio challenges court’s authority to hear Natasha’s suit
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Senate President Godswill Akpabio contested the Federal High Court's jurisdiction in the case filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The Senate stood firm on its six-month suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, dismissing external pressure to reinstate her.
