A former Nigerian career diplomat, Ibrahim Mohammed Bashir, Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), has stated that the alleged sexual harassment case involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has put Nigeria’s image to the test.
Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
This follows the report filed by the embattled senator at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Natasha, who was suspended by the Senate, has continued to fight against what she describes as “injustice”, following her suspension from the National Assembly.
After her report at the IPU meeting, many Nigerians criticized her move, arguing that it was tarnishing the country’s image.
In an exclusive interview with The New Daily Prime, Bashir remarked that Nigeria was already under international scrutiny, especially from Western nations, due to the ongoing crisis in the National Assembly.
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He further noted that the embattled senator was acting out of frustration, which is why she decided to escalate the matter to the IPU meeting.
“Nigeria’s reputation is under scrutiny because of such a serious allegation of sexual harassment. Even before she took her case to the IPU, the UN Human Rights Commission and diplomatic missions in Nigeria were already closely monitoring developments and reporting their assessments to their respective governments,” he stated.
Bashir emphasized that while the IPU is not part of the United Nations, it holds permanent observer status with the UN General Assembly, allowing it to participate in global discussions and activities.
“Senator Natasha was pushed to the wall and had to resort to the IPU to be heard because her right to a fair hearing was denied. In today’s interconnected world, she took her case before a global body to ensure her voice was heard and to seek redress,” he added.
Federal Government’s Response to the Crisis
Bashir advised that the federal government must handle the matter professionally, especially when addressing it on an international platform.
“The government of Nigeria, through its diplomatic representatives at the IPU, should not dismiss the matter as trivial or a mere domestic affair. A well-structured and convincing response should be provided sooner rather than later.”
He also highlighted the legal implications of sexual harassment allegations, stressing that if proven, such misconduct carries serious legal consequences under Nigeria’s Criminal Code, Penal Code, and the Constitution.
Bashir argued that the issue could have been resolved internally within the Senate, without escalating it to the international stage.
“This was fundamentally a parliamentary dispute over seat allocation that should have been resolved within the Senate chamber. With effective leadership, this matter would not have escalated to this level.”
He further explained that all 109 senators are equal representatives, and leadership roles, including that of the Senate President, should not create a hierarchical power imbalance.
“Her suspension was handed down without giving her the opportunity to present her defence, violating parliamentary ethics and a High Court order in the process.”
What remains clear is that the case has exposed deep flaws in Nigeria’s parliamentary governance and has placed the country’s commitment to justice, fairness, and democracy under global scrutiny.
