Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana has cautioned Nigerian authorities against launching an official probe into Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attendance at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York, warning that such an investigation could bring unnecessary embarrassment to the country.
Falana’s statement follows reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are investigating how Akpoti-Uduaghan attended the IPU gathering without an official nomination.
The controversy stems from allegations by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who claimed the senator’s actions at the international forum humiliated the Nigerian government and its people.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had used the platform to highlight her recent suspension from the Senate, which she described as retaliation for accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment.
Her suspension, officially attributed to “gross misconduct” following a seating arrangement dispute with Akpabio, has sparked political tension. Speaking at the IPU event on March 11, she claimed the Senate’s action was meant to silence her.
Reacting to the security agencies’ investigation, Falana, in a statement on Sunday, dismissed the probe as a move that could damage Nigeria’s reputation.
“Contrary to the jaundiced views of the Senate leader, it is the official probe of the circumstances of her trip by security forces that will expose Nigeria to needless embarrassment and undeserved ridicule,” Falana stated.
He further urged authorities to reflect on past incidents where top officials, including those now in the Bola Tinubu administration, had been accused of traveling abroad to criticize previous governments.
As tensions rise over the unfolding saga, the legal expert’s remarks add to growing concerns about the implications of the probe on Nigeria’s global image.