Women’s Groups Take Nigerian Senate To UN Over Natasha’s Suspension

A almighty conjugation of Nigerian women’s rights organisations has taken the conflict implicit the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the United Nations, accusing the Nigerian Senate of gender-based favoritism and governmental retaliation pursuing her allegations of intersexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In a ceremonial ailment submitted connected Monday to Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur connected Violence Against Women and Girls, the Women’s Manifesto Network—a conjugation representing implicit 350 organisations—argued that the Senate’s actions interruption Nigeria’s obligations nether the Convention connected the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, went nationalist connected February 20, alleging that Senate President Akpabio sexually harassed her—allegations helium has powerfully denied.

Days later, the Senate’s Committee connected Ethics and Privileges recommended her six-month suspension, citing alleged breaches of parliamentary procedure.

The suspension deprived her of salary, authoritative security, and entree to the legislative chambers—sparking outrage among civilian nine groups, who described the determination arsenic disproportionate and vindictive.

On July 4, the Federal High Court successful Abuja declared the suspension unconstitutional and ordered her reinstatement.

However, the Senate has refused to comply, claiming the judgement was not a nonstop bid and remains nether ineligible appeal.

“This is astir the integrity of our democracy,” said Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Convener of Womanifesto and Director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC). “If a legislator tin beryllium silenced for reporting harassment, what anticipation bash mean women have?”

The conjugation urged the UN to property Nigerian authorities and the Senate to: “Enforce the tribunal ruling and reinstate Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan without further delay, Guarantee her information and extortion from governmental oregon idiosyncratic reprisals, Conduct an autarkic probe into the harassment allegations, Introduce structural reforms that let for independent, non-partisan ailment mechanisms wrong the National Assembly.”

The petition’s signatories see Amnesty International Nigeria, FIDA Nigeria, Baobab for Women’s Human Rights, Women successful Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), and Stand to End Rape Initiative (STER).

Activists pass that the Senate’s refusal to obey a valid tribunal judgement sends a chilling connection to women successful nationalist life.

“Sexual harassment successful authorities is not conscionable a idiosyncratic violation—it’s a systemic obstruction to women’s information successful governance,” the petition stated.

While the UN Special Rapporteur’s bureau has not yet responded, observers accidental planetary scrutiny is mounting and whitethorn summation unit connected Nigerian authorities to uphold the regularisation of law.