ABUJA, Nigeria – Suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is reportedly hesitant to return to Nigeria over fears of arrest following her remarks at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York, sources close to the senator have revealed.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended by the Nigerian Senate for six months over allegations of “gross misconduct,” addressed the IPU session on 11 March at the United Nations headquarters.
During her speech, she condemned her suspension as “unlawful” and claimed it was an attempt to silence her over sexual harassment allegations she had levelled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Sources indicate that the senator now fears arrest upon her return to Nigeria, as she is reportedly under investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The probe aims to determine how she obtained accreditation for the IPU event, who facilitated her trip, and whether her participation was intended to embarrass the Nigerian government.
According to a report by Premium Times, the investigation has heightened tensions around Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return.
A source close to the senator revealed that she narrowly avoided arrest in New York due to the intervention of other parliamentarians and security personnel.
“She told some of us that plans are in motion to detain her the moment she steps into Abuja,” the source said.
“She narrated how some officers of Nigeria’s embassy in New York attempted to remove her from the United Nations premises immediately after her speech. It was the intervention of lawmakers from other countries and security personnel that saved her. We can’t fathom what would have happened if they had successfully taken her out of the premises.”
The senator’s attendance at the IPU has also drawn criticism from Nigerian lawmakers.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele questioned the legality of her participation, emphasising that Nigeria’s membership in the IPU is through the National Assembly, not individuals.
“Inter-Parliamentary organizations, including the IPU, operate based on protocols. Membership is by national parliamentary organisations, not individuals. Those who attend are designated delegates, speaking on behalf of their Parliament,” Bamidele said.
“If, for any reason, a colleague who was not even designated as a delegate found her way there and spoke for herself rather than for Nigeria, that is another issue altogether.”
Similarly, Jimoh Ibrahim, Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, stated that he did not approve Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attendance at the event.
“I did not approve or authorise the suspended Senator Natasha to attend the IPU on behalf of Nigeria or the Senate President,” he said.
A lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that Akpoti-Uduaghan is under surveillance by security agencies.
“As it is now, she is afraid of returning to the country. She is currently on a watchlist, and the moment she lands, she will be arrested,” the lawmaker said.
The situation has sparked debate over the limits of parliamentary discipline and the role of international bodies in addressing domestic political disputes.
As the investigation continues, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s future remains uncertain, with her return to Nigeria likely to escalate the ongoing controversy.
No official statement has been issued by the DSS or NIA regarding the investigation or the senator’s alleged watchlist status.
