Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has raised alarm over a planned arrest upon her return to Nigeria, allegedly orchestrated by security officials. The lawmaker, who is currently in the United States following her participation in an international parliamentary meeting, claims the move is connected to her vocal participation at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting held in New York on March 11, 2025.
Speaking in a phone interview with Premium Times on Sunday, the senator revealed that Nigerian security agencies are allegedly preparing to arrest her once she arrives in Abuja. Though she did not specify which security agencies were involved in the plot, the claims are tied to her criticism of the Nigerian government during her speech at the IPU meeting. The senator accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment and spoke out against her recent suspension from the Senate, which she described as politically motivated.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has been outspoken about her suspension, claiming that it was a form of retaliation for her criticisms within the Senate. She believes her suspension was an attempt to silence her over allegations of misconduct by Senate leadership, including claims of sexual harassment against Senate President Akpabio.
In a telephone interview, the senator expressed concern over the Nigerian government’s alleged attempt to arrest her when she returns. She said, “I’m aware there are plans underway to have me arrested as soon as I arrive in Abuja.”
This allegation comes amidst an ongoing investigation by Nigerian intelligence agencies into how the senator was able to attend the IPU meeting without official nomination. Both the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are reportedly looking into how she was accredited for the international meeting and whether her participation was part of a broader attempt to embarrass Nigeria on the global stage.
On March 11, 2025, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan addressed the IPU meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York. In her speech, she recounted her suspension from the Nigerian Senate, accusing Senate President Akpabio of sexually harassing her. She also claimed that the suspension was politically motivated as retaliation for her outspoken stance on legislative misconduct.
The senator’s allegations were met with mixed reactions. The President of the IPU, Tulia Ackson, stated that the organization would investigate the matter but also emphasized that the Nigerian Senate would be given the opportunity to present its side of the story. This raised questions about the international attention the incident was garnering and how it would affect Nigeria’s global reputation.
However, a Nigerian delegate to the IPU meeting, Kafilat Ogbara, quickly countered Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statements. Ogbara, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, read a letter from Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele. According to the letter, the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan was due to violations of Senate Standing Rules, not any allegations against Senate President Akpabio. This response aimed to discredit the senator’s claims and clarify the reasons behind her suspension.
The situation took a dramatic turn when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that, shortly after her speech at the IPU meeting, she was confronted by Nigerian officials. According to the senator, Senate President Akpabio sent a group of three staff members, led by the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in New York, to forcibly remove her from the United Nations premises.
She described the incident as an attempt to intimidate her and halt her participation in the IPU meeting. “The Senate President Akpabio sent three staff headed by the Chargé D’Affaires of the Nigerian embassy in New York to evacuate me from the United Nations premises right after my speech. I was rescued by parliamentarians from other countries and the security,” Akpoti-Uduaghan stated.
This revelation has further intensified the controversy, drawing attention to the alleged use of diplomatic influence to silence a sitting senator at an international forum. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Senate President Akpabio has not publicly responded to the claims, and his spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, did not respond to calls or text messages from PREMIUM TIMES seeking comment. Similarly, the Senate’s spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, could not be reached for comment as his phone line was not connecting.
The political landscape surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims is complex, with ongoing tensions between the senator and the leadership of the Nigerian Senate. Akpoti-Uduaghan has been an outspoken critic of the current administration, particularly Senate President Akpabio. She has consistently raised concerns about corruption, mismanagement, and the treatment of women in the political arena.
Her allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio have not been independently verified but have nonetheless raised questions about the treatment of women in Nigerian politics. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s participation in the IPU meeting, where she sought international support for her cause, has further fueled the political firestorm surrounding her.
The investigation into how she was able to attend the meeting without an official invitation or accreditation highlights the underlying suspicion about her motives and affiliations. There are concerns within the Nigerian government that her actions were part of a larger strategy to undermine the country’s image on the international stage. Some critics have speculated that interest groups may have helped facilitate her participation to embarrass the Nigerian government.
The unfolding controversy has sparked widespread public debate, both within Nigeria and internationally. Many Nigerians are closely watching how the government will respond to the senator’s claims and the potential implications for freedom of speech and political dissent in the country.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations also underscore the broader issue of political opposition in Nigeria, where critics of the government often face harassment, intimidation, and, in some cases, threats of arrest. Her situation is reflective of the challenges faced by many individuals who speak out against perceived injustice or corruption within the Nigerian political system.
