Femi Falana (SAN) Warns Senate Against Probing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s New York Trip

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Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has cautioned the Senate and security agencies against probing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over her recent engagement with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in New York, describing such actions as unnecessary and potentially embarrassing for the country.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier reported her suspension by the Senate, which she deemed “illegal” and reflective of systemic challenges faced by women in Nigeria, to the IPU. However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio accused her of disgracing Nigeria by escalating the matter to an international audience. The senator has also claimed plans are underway to arrest her upon her return to the country.

Falana, in a statement on Sunday, criticized the decision to involve security agencies like the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in a legislative matter, emphasizing the historical irony. He noted that numerous top officials in President Bola Tinubu’s administration had previously engaged in activities abroad to challenge Nigeria’s military regimes, which makes the Senate’s stance questionable.

Recalling past incidents, Falana highlighted how he and the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti were detained by the Sani Abacha regime in the 1990s for their international human rights advocacy. He condemned the illegalities of “watch lists” and travel restrictions on Nigerians, citing the Court of Appeal ruling in Shugaba v. Minister of Internal Affairs, which upheld the right to freedom of movement.

Falana warned that probing Akpoti-Uduaghan would revive discussions on Nigeria’s human rights record and subject the nation to global scrutiny. “It is the official probe… that will expose Nigeria to needless embarrassment,” he asserted.

The human rights lawyer further urged the Senate and security forces to abandon any such investigation, reiterating that such a move could tarnish Nigeria’s image and inflame international criticism.

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