Nigeria’s intelligence agencies have launched an investigation into how Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan gained access to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York without official nomination. The State Security Service (SSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are probing how she secured accreditation and whether her participation was meant to embarrass the country. According to sources, only officially designated delegates are permitted to attend such global gatherings, raising concerns over protocol violations.
At the March 11 IPU meeting, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that her suspension from the Nigerian Senate was politically motivated and linked it to her criticism of legislative misconduct. She also made sexual harassment claims against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In response, IPU President Tulia Ackson promised an investigation but insisted that Nigeria must also present its stance. Meanwhile, House Committee Chair Kafilat Ogbara and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele dismissed her claims, insisting that her suspension followed Senate rules and was not politically driven.
The DSS-NIA probe aims to uncover who facilitated the senator’s participation, whether she misrepresented Nigeria’s position, and if her actions breached IPU or Nigerian parliamentary protocols. Senate officials are also concerned that she may have occupied Nigeria’s designated seat and presented personal grievances instead of the country’s official stance. As investigations unfold, the case raises critical questions about protocol adherence and Nigeria’s representation in international parliamentary engagements.