The Nigerian Senate has told the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months due to gross misconduct.
The Senate said that Natasha’s suspension is not related to allegations of sexual harassment as she claimed.
Gists9ja reports that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had taken Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to the IPU over her six-month suspension and allegations of sexual harassment.
Speaking at the Women in Parliament session at the United Nations in New York, Natasha informed the IPU of her alleged victimisation by Akpabio.
The suspended senator, in an emotional speech, sought justice and called for the intervention of global democratic institutions.
Responding to her complaint, Tulia Ackson, President of IPU, said the institution will also listen to the other side before it would be able to take further steps.
However, the Senate has told IPU that contrary to the “deliberate misinformation and false narratives” circulating in the media, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for violation of standing rules.
Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Kafilat Ogbara, read a statement by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, on behalf of the Senate.
Ogbara stated that the National Assembly tasked her with delivering a response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s speech given at the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
According to the statement, Natasha’s suspension followed the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which found her guilty of violating multiple sections of the Senate Rules.
Parts of the statement read: “In response to the call by the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Right Honorable Tulia Ackson to hear both sides of the matter, I have received a letter from the Nigerian Senate in my capacity as Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development of our parliament in Nigeria and the parliamentarian representing Nigeria at this conference.
“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and unruly behaviour and not as a result of allegations of sexual harassment or assault.
“Let it be unequivocally stated that Senator Akpoti-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.
“Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was a direct consequence of her actions and nothing else.”
