Femi Falana cautioned against an investigation into Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s IPU attendance, asserting it may embarrass President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The inquiry follows Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and her subsequent comments at the IPU meeting. Falana characterized the probe as likely to expose Nigeria to public ridicule.
Femi Falana, a prominent human rights lawyer, has issued a warning to security agencies regarding their investigation into Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s participation at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York. He argued that such a probe could lead to embarrassment for significant figures within President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The inquiry by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has been prompted by reports that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan attended the IPU meeting without official nomination. This situation arises following her recent suspension from the Nigerian Senate, where Senate President Godswill Akpabio accused her of bringing shame to the government by discussing her suspension in an international forum. In defense, the senator claimed that her suspension resulted from her allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.
Falana described the investigation as futile and likely to tarnish Nigeria’s image, stating that it will expose the government to “needless embarrassment and undeserved ridicule.” He emphasized that the actual implications of the probe could adversely affect the governance credibility in Nigeria, particularly for officials within the Tinubu administration who had faced similar accusations in the past regarding their foreign travels.
In summary, Femi Falana has warned against the potential repercussions of investigating Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s IPU attendance, arguing that it could lead to embarrassment for the Nigerian government. He contends that such actions could undermine the administration’s integrity, suggesting lessons should be learned from past governmental conduct regarding international representation and private matters.
Original Source: solacebase.com
