Nigerian human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has warned the Senate and security agencies against investigating Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over her recent trip to New York.
He cautioned that such an inquiry could embarrass the country.
The controversy began after Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan reported her suspension from the Senate to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and filed a case against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
She called her suspension “illegal” and an example of the challenges women face in Nigeria.
In response, Akpabio accused her of tarnishing the country’s image on an international platform.
The senator has also alleged that plans are in motion to arrest her upon her return to Nigeria.
However, Falana dismissed the need for any probe, arguing that involving security agencies like the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in a legislative matter is unnecessary.
He recalled past incidents where Nigerian officials traveled abroad to challenge military governments and noted that a similar probe today would only revive discussions about those events, exposing Nigeria to further scrutiny.
Falana cited legal precedents that protect citizens’ rights to travel freely and warned against repeating past mistakes made under the military regime.
He urged the Senate to respect legal rights and avoid actions that could bring unnecessary global attention to Nigeria.
