DSS, NIA Probe Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Unauthorised Attendance at Global Parliamentary Meeting
The Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) have launched an investigation into how Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, attended the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York without an official nomination.
According to Premium Times, the probe aims to uncover how she secured accreditation, who facilitated her participation, and whether her attendance was part of a deliberate attempt to embarrass the Nigerian government.
The IPU, a global organization of national parliaments, mandates that each country formally nominate delegates before meetings. However, sources claim that Akpoti-Uduaghan attended the high-profile gathering despite lacking official authorization.
The joint DSS and NIA investigation reportedly stems from complaints raised by the Nigerian Senate, sparking concerns over how Akpoti-Uduaghan managed to gain access. Officials are now examining whether she obtained unauthorized credentials or had external facilitators aiding her entry.
Additionally, the probe seeks to determine if her presence at the event violated IPU regulations or Nigerian parliamentary protocol.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s controversial attendance comes amid heightened tensions in the Nigerian Senate. The senator recently accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim she made following a heated dispute over her seating arrangement in the red chamber.
Shortly after, she was suspended from the Senate for what was described as “gross misconduct” about the altercation.
At the IPU meeting on March 11, Akpoti-Uduaghan used her platform to denounce her suspension, alleging that it was a retaliatory move aimed at silencing her over the sexual harassment claims.
In response to her speech, the IPU pledged to look into the matter, stating that both sides of the controversy would be heard.
However, the Nigerian Senate quickly countered her narrative. Kafilat Ogbara, a member of the House of Representatives and chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, told the IPU meeting that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was not linked to her allegations against the Senate President.
Ogbara, who was Nigeria’s officially recognized representative at the IPU meeting, sought to clarify the Senate’s stance and push back against claims of political victimization.
