Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Chairman of the Senate Interparliamentary Committee, has dismissed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) over her suspension and sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Ibrahim described Akpoti-Uduaghan’s move as “dead on arrival”, stating that her petition holds no legal standing before the IPU.
Why the Petition Is Considered Invalid
In a statement released in Abuja on Thursday, Ibrahim explained that the IPU only accepts petitions from its member states, not individuals. He clarified that while Nigeria is a recognized member, Akpoti-Uduaghan, as an individual senator, is not.
“The IPU cannot consider petitions from individuals who are not members. The suspended Senator Natasha is not a member of the IPU, but Nigeria is.”
“Additionally, the suspended Senator cannot represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I served as the interim president of the IPU in Geneva in 2023, and I am familiar with how the IPU operates after presiding over its proceedings.”
Senate Did Not Authorize Akpoti-Uduaghan’s IPU Attendance
Ibrahim further asserted that Akpoti-Uduaghan did not have Senate authorization to attend any IPU meeting on behalf of Nigeria.
“As Chairman of the Interparliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, I did not approve or authorize the suspended Senator Natasha to attend the IPU on behalf of Nigeria to the Senate President.”
Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate following accusations of misconduct. She later alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio sexually harassed her, prompting her decision to petition the IPU.
However, with the rejection of her petition’s validity by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, it remains uncertain what further steps she might take in pursuit of her claims.
