SENATE UNSEALS SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN’S OFFICE, AS WOMEN GROUP PETITIONS UNITED NATIONS

The National Assembly has unsealed the office of Senator NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing. The office was unsealed on Tuesday by the Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, ALABI ADEDEJI, after six months. The move potentially paves the way for the Kogi Central Senator to return to the Red Chamber when plenary resumes on October 7, 2025. The development comes a day after Senator NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN accused the Federal Government of subjecting her to political persecution due to the criminal defamation charges filed against her. Senator AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN’s claim was contained in a preliminary objection seeking the dismissal of the six-count charge filed against her by the Attorney General of the Federation. AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN is standing trial before both the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal High Court. She is, however, challenging the jurisdiction of the courts to hear the case, arguing that the Attorney-General of the Federation does not have the locus standi to prosecute her for what she described as a private defamation case. The PDP Senator also argued that while the Federal Government was quick to file charges against her based on the complaint of the Senate President, GODSWILL AKPABIO, the same government ignored her own earlier petitions against Senator AKPABIO for alleged sexual harassment. Similarly, a coalition of groups involved in the advocacy of women’s rights in Nigeria has asked for the intervention of the United Nations in the faceoff between Senator NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN and the leadership of the Nigerian Senate. The Coalition of Women’s Rights Organisations in Nigeria accused the leadership of the Senate of gender-based discrimination, according to a petition submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, REEM ALSALEM. The coalition known as Womanifesto Network — which represents more than three hundred and fifty organisations — argued that the actions of the Senate against the Kogi Central Senator are against the spirit of Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. A convener of the group, Dr ABIOLA AKIYODE-AFOLABI, said the interest of the coalition is about the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy, adding that if a senator could be silenced for reporting harassment, then there was no hope for ordinary women. She said the coalition wants the UN to pressure the Nigerian government and the Senate to comply with a Federal High Court ruling by reinstating Senator AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN immediately, and to establish an impartial investigation into her harassment claim against the Senate President, GODSWILL AKPABIO.