Natasha: IPU can’t summon Akpabio, says spokesman

The camp of Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed the authority of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to compel him to appear before its panel over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly.

Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, made this known in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is serving a six-month suspension, had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of power.

On Tuesday, she went before the IPU, a United Nations agency, to lodge a complaint against the Nigerian Senate and the Senate President, Akpabio.

After listening to her case, the IPU stated that it would have to hear from Akpabio in order to take a position on the matter.

“The IPU, through its President Tulia Ackson, assured that it would take necessary steps after hearing both sides of the issue. Ackson acknowledged Akpoti-Uduaghan’s concerns but stressed the need for procedural fairness by hearing Akpabio’s side as well,” a Wednesday statement by the agency read.

However, in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, Akpabio’s aide,  Eyiboh, insisted that the Senate President was under no obligation to honour any invitation from the IPU, arguing that the matter was an internal parliamentary issue.

“They don’t have the authority to do that. It is an internal affair of the National Assembly. Akpabio can’t be forced to honour an IPU invitation. That is one. Secondly, what she is doing is contemptuous since she was said to have obtained a court order,” he said.

“That means she has no regard for the rule of law. And beyond being contemptuous, what she is trying to do is to dent the image of Nigeria, which is worrisome. Again, the IPU cannot meddle into the parliament and internal affairs of a sovereign state like Nigeria. It will be very embarrassing.

“But as I said, she has taken a step to show contempt for the court she went to. Has anybody asked her why she left the court to start heading to the IPU? Anyway, we wouldn’t want to comment too much on that issue because it is sub judice.”

When asked if Akpoti-Uduaghan would face further sanctions for her actions, Eyiboh declined to speculate.

“I cannot predict that,” he said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was suspended on March 6 following a confrontation with the Senate President over a new seating arrangement, which she claimed was designed to undermine her.

The matter escalated when she, during an appearance on national television, accused Akpabio of politically victimising her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances.

Speaking 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.

She further lamented the withdrawal of her security, salary cuts, and a six-month ban from the National Assembly.

Senate denies allegation

The Senate had denied allegations that the six-month suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan was linked to claims of sexual harassment, stating that the disciplinary action was strictly due to her “gross misconduct” and repeated violations of parliamentary rules.

In a strongly worded statement issued by Senate Leader, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, the upper legislative chamber dismissed what it called “deliberate misinformation and false narratives” circulating in certain media outlets.

“Let it be unequivocally stated that Senator Uduaghan was suspended solely for her persistent acts of misconduct, blatant disregard for the provisions of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended), and gross indiscipline—nothing more, nothing less,” Opeyemi stated.

The Senate clarified that the decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan was based on the findings of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which determined that she had violated multiple sections of the Senate Rules.

Among the infractions listed were her refusal to occupy her assigned seat during plenary, speaking without being recognized by the presiding officer, engaging in unruly and disruptive behavior, making abusive remarks against the Senate leadership, and defying summons from the Ethics and Privileges Committee.

The Senate maintained that these actions constituted a “direct challenge to the authority of the Senate” and warranted disciplinary measures to maintain order and integrity within the chamber.

Regarding reports that linked Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension to a petition she submitted, the Senate clarified that the petition was “rightfully discountenanced” for failing to meet procedural requirements. It stressed that all petitions, regardless of their subject matter, must adhere to due process.

“Contrary to the false claims being circulated, Senator Uduaghan was NOT suspended for making any sexual harassment allegation or for submitting a petition,” Opeyemi reiterated.

The Senate also condemned what it described as “irresponsible and unethical reporting” by certain media outlets, accusing them of engaging in a “coordinated misinformation campaign” designed to politicize a routine disciplinary matter.

“This coordinated misinformation campaign is nothing more than an attempt to politicize a disciplinary action that was strictly based on clear violations of Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended),” the statement read.

The Senate urged both local and international media organizations to “correct these misrepresentations” and avoid spreading falsehoods that could undermine public trust in the legislative process.