The Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, has said that it will work on the complaint brought before it by Nigerian senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had taken Nigeria’s Senate President,
Godswill Akpabio to the IPU over her six-month suspension and allegations of
sexual harassment.
Speaking at the Women in Parliament session at the United
Nations in New York, Natasha informed the IPU of her alleged victimisation by
Akpabio.
The suspended Senator, in an emotional speech, sought
justice and called for the intervention of global democratic institutions.
She insisted that her suspension from Nigeria’s Senate was
“unlawful” and an act of injustice against her.
However, reacting to her complaint, Tulia Ackson, President
of IPU, said the institution will also listen to the other side before it will
be able to take further steps.
Ackson said: “There was a matter that arose during the first
session which we had this morning. The matter that was raised by our colleague
from Nigeria, Senator Natasha, and because all of us heard what she said and it
only serves us better if I put a word in what she has said.
“So I would like to say we have heard our her concerns, and
having heard her, it would have been an opportunity for all of us to understand
more about what she has said, but because we listened only on her side, as an
institution as IPU, we will be taking the concerns that have been raised, not
only taking her side, but also giving a chance to listen to the other side, as
it is a custom for IPU. And after having listened to the other side, we will
take steps as necessary.
“I thought it was necessary for us to say a word about it
and then be able to take it further. So we have taken care, or we have taken
the concerns that she raised, and we will be working on them, of course, having
listened to the other side, and we will be able to take steps after that.
“I also recognize the fact that our Nigerian delegate, who
is here had requested the floor honorable cavid, but because of time, she
wasn’t given a chance to speak.
“But like I said, we have heard the concerns that have been
raised by Senator Natasha, but at the same time, we have taken cognizance of
the fact that you would have wished to address us, but time wasn’t enough to
give us to give you a chance to do that.
“And that said, IPU will be taking this matter as we usually
do when such such concerns are raised in meetings like this.”