Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has dismissed a petition filed by suspended lawmaker Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), calling it “dead on arrival.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended on March 6 following a dispute with Senate leadership, had taken her case to an international parliamentary forum, alleging political persecution.
Speaking at a United Nations event, she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of orchestrating her suspension as an act of retaliation.
Reacting to her claims, Ibrahim stated that the IPU does not process petitions from individuals but only from member states. He further emphasised that Akpoti-Uduaghan was not an authorised representative of Nigeria at the forum.
“I served as interim president of the IPU in Geneva, so I understand how it works. Petitions are only considered if submitted by a member state, not by individuals,” Ibrahim clarified.
He also pointed out that the Nigerian Senate had not sanctioned her participation in the event, reinforcing his stance that her claims lacked legitimacy.
