The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has said it would hear from President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio before acting on the sexual harassments allegation made against him by his compatriot, Senator Natasha Akpoti -Uduaghan.
Natasha who is representing Kogi Central Senatorial District had in her presentation before the IPU meeting held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Tuesday alleged that she was suspended for six months as a member of the Nigerian senate because of the sexual harassment allegations she made against Akpabio.
The Kogi Central Senator had appealed to IPU to intervene in her suspension by the Nigerian Senate
But the President of the IPU, Tulia Ackson said the body has taken note of the concerns raised by Natasha.
Ackson added that IPU would also give opportunity for the Nigerian Senate to present its side of the story before taking any action in line with its established procedures for settling such matters as presented by Natasha.
“All of us heard what she said and it only serves us better if I put a word in what she has said. I would like to say we have heard you, we have heard 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 to only her side.
“As an institution, as IPU, we would be taking the concerns that have been raised, not only taking her side but also giving a chance to the other side as it is a custom for IPU and after having listened to the other side we would take steps as necessary. So I thought it was necessary for us to say a word about it and then be able to take it further,” she said.
“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. We have heard the concerns that have been raised by Senator Natasha but at the same time, we have taken cognisance of the fact that you would have wished to address us but time wasn’t enough to give you a chance to do that and that would have said that IPU will take up this matter as we usually do when such concerns are raised in a meeting like this.”
