Femi Falana has warned that probing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s IPU attendance could embarrass Nigerian officials. The investigation follows her suspension from the Senate, which she attributes to retaliation for accusing Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment. Falana advises against the probe, indicating it may lead to public ridicule for the government.
Femi Falana, a prominent human rights lawyer, has expressed grave concerns about the investigation into Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attendance at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York. He warned that such an inquiry, initiated by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), could lead to embarrassment for key officials within President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
This controversy arises after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent suspension from the Nigerian Senate, wherein she highlighted her situation at the international event. Senate President Godswill Akpabio has accused her of bringing shame to the government by discussing her suspension. Akpoti-Uduaghan contends that her suspension was in retaliation for accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment.
In a statement released on Sunday, Falana characterized the probe as a misguided effort that risks exposing Nigeria to “needless embarrassment and undeserved ridicule.” He reflected on the Senate President’s comments regarding the senator, suggesting that the official examination of her attendance would, in fact, highlight Nigeria’s vulnerabilities rather than protect its image.
He stated, “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 further advised the security agencies to learn from past governmental overreach, referencing investigations conducted by the Sani Abacha military regime, which led to significant public backlash.
Falana concluded that the inquiry into Akpoti-Uduaghan’s participation would ultimately embarrass officials from the Tinubu administration who have previously faced criticism for their own questionable travels.
In summary, Femi Falana has cautioned against the probe into Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attendance at the IPU meeting, arguing that it could embarrass the Nigerian government. The controversy stems from her suspension from the Senate, and the subsequent accusations directed towards her by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Falana’s remarks suggest that this investigation could reiterate past governmental missteps and ultimately harm the reputation of key officials within the administration.
Original Source: solacebase.com
