[Natasha] IPU has no authority to summon Akpabio, says spokesman

The Summon made by the Inter-Parliamentary Union to Senate President Godswill Akpabio has been dismissed by his camp, noting that the IPU has no authority to compel him to appear before its panel over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly.

This was made known by Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, on Wednesday.

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, currently serving a six-month suspension, had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of power.

She went before the IPU, a United Nations agency, on tuesday, to lodge a complaint against the Nigerian Senate and the Senate President, Akpabio.

On Wednesday, After listening to her case, “The IPU, through its President, Tulia Ackson, assured that it would take necessary steps after hearing both sides of the issue. Ackson acknowledged Akpoti-Uduaghan’s concerns but stressed the need for procedural fairness by hearing Akpabio’s side as well.”

However, On Wednesday, Akpabio’s aide,  Eyiboh, dismissed the authority of the IPU to summon the Senate President.

He stated, “They don’t have the authority to do that. It is an internal affair of the National Assembly. Akpabio can’t be forced to honour an IPU invitation. That is one. Secondly, what she is doing is contemptuous since she was said to have obtained a court order.”

“That means she has no regard for the rule of law. And beyond being contemptuous, what she is trying to do is to dent the image of Nigeria, which is worrisome. Again, the IPU cannot meddle into the parliament and internal affairs of a sovereign state like Nigeria. It will be very embarrassing, he said.

“But as I said, she has taken a step to show contempt for the court she went to. Has anybody asked her why she left the court to start heading to the IPU? Anyway, we wouldn’t want to comment too much on that issue because it is sub judice