Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has taken her allegation of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to a global body as she is now asking the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at the United Nations in New York to assist her in getting justice.
The Senate had suspended the lawmaker for six moths, following her violation of its rules days after she submitted a petition against Akpabio for alleged sexual assault and other accusations while Akpabio has denied the allegations.
But at the Women in Parliament session held at the IPU meeting at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, Natasha is seeking justice and the intervention of global democratic institution.
The federal lawmaker is further asking for justice over what she described as injustice meted out to her while she described her six months suspension from the Senate as illegal.
Reporting Akpabio to the IPU, Natasha said, “I come with a heavy heart from Nigeria. But first, I will like to apologise to Hon. Kafilat Ogbara. I am not here to bring shame to our country, I am here to seek help for the women of Nigeria.
“Five days ago, on the 6th of March 2025, I was suspended as a senator illegally because I submitted a petition of sexual harassment against the president of the Nigerian senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
“I thought by submitting the petition, he would recuse himself and both of us would submit ourselves to the committee of ethics, privileges and public petitions for a fair and transparent investigation.
“But unfortunately, I was silenced, and I was suspended for six months among many other stringent conditions, such as taking away my security, taking away all the official vehicles and other items that were handed over to me as a senator.
“My salary would be cut off. I must not appear anywhere near the National Assembly . And for six months, I am not to present myself as a senator locally in Nigeria and internationally.
“That means I’m here illegally, but I have no other place to go but to come here and speak to you because this is a bigger picture. This is a bigger picture. It depicts the crisis of women’s political representation. My suspension is not just about me. It’s about the systemic exclusion of women from political leadership in Nigeria.“This is a clear case of political victimization, punishment for speaking out against impunity, corruption and gender-based violence,” she added.
After her speech, Natasha expressed worry about her security, claiming that there are indications that she may be held against her will in New York for speaking up on the issue at the global event by “the powers that be” from Nigeria.
Natasha had initially submitted a petition to the Senate accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment. But the lawmakers threw it out before suspending her even after submitting another petition.
The Kogi Central Senator also vowed to continue the fight against “injustice”. But in the wake of the suspension, Akpabio denied the accusations and maintained he has never assaulted women.
It is instructive to know that Natasha’s altercation with the Senate president started on February 20, 2025, after her seat was changed during plenary.
That is not the first time both individuals had issues. In July 2024, Akpabio had while trying to correct her for misconduct told her to follow the rules and that the Senate is not a nightclub where anybody can talk anyhow. But Akpabio later apologised to her for the remark.
 has taken her allegation of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill){kind=link}