The Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) have reportedly launched an investigation into how Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan attended the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York without an official nomination.
According to Premium Times, the probe aims to determine how she obtained accreditation, who facilitated her trip, and whether her presence at the event was an attempt to embarrass the Nigerian government.
The IPU, a global organization of national parliaments, requires countries to nominate official delegates before meetings.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly attended the event without proper authorization.
The investigation was reportedly triggered by complaints from the Senate, prompting intelligence agencies to look into whether she secured unauthorized credentials or had external facilitators aiding her participation.
The probe will also determine whether her attendance breached IPU regulations or Nigerian parliamentary protocol.
Akpoti-Uduaghan recently made headlines after accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment following a dispute over her seating arrangement in the red chamber.
She was later suspended from the Senate for “gross misconduct”, a move she described as retaliation for speaking out.
During her speech at the IPU meeting on March 11, Akpoti-Uduaghan addressed her suspension, claiming it was meant to silence her over the sexual harassment allegations.
In response, the IPU assured her that the organization would take steps to address her concerns and hear all sides.
The Senate later issued a response through Kafilat Ogbara, a House of Representatives member, who clarified at the IPU meeting that Akpoti-Uduaghan was not suspended over her allegations against Akpabio.
Ogbara, who serves as the chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, was Nigeria’s official representative at the IPU meeting.
