UN Conference: Ogbara’s Call for Transparency in New York vs. Imasuen’s Committee-Endorsed Silencing of Akpoti-Uduaghan in Nigeria, By John Egbeazien Oshodi

At the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Conference in New York, the glaring disparity between justice and political suppression unfolded before the international community. On one side stood Honorable Kafilat Ogbara, Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, advocating for truth, fairness, and accountability. On the other, Nigeria’s Senate had already chosen the path of retaliation, silence, and erasure—a course of action orchestrated by Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions. Instead of ensuring a fair hearing, Imasuen’s committee became the mechanism through which the Senate dismissed a petition of sexual harassment against its president, Godswill Akpabio, and swiftly recommended the suspension of the accuser, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. What should have been an opportunity to uphold justice became a stark display of institutional power protecting itself at the expense of truth.

Ogbara, standing before global leaders, read a defensive letter from Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, yet she carefully distanced herself by introducing it with “voice from Bamidele”—a subtle but significant way to make it clear that these words were not her own. In contrast, she boldly spoke from her heart, calling for due process, fairness, and transparency, stating:

“Such allegations demand a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation. At the same time, we must ensure that fairness is upheld for all individuals involved and justice is never pre-determined or one-sided.”

These were the words Nigeria’s Senate should have lived by. But back home, the Senate had already made its decision: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had to be erased, silenced, and punished for daring to challenge a powerful man.

A Senator Erased: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Defiant Speech at the UN

As Akpoti-Uduaghan took the stage at the United Nations, she stood not only as a senator but as a living testament to the price women pay for speaking the truth in Nigeria. Her words were not just about herself; they were about an entire nation of women who live in silence, afraid of the repercussions of speaking out.

“I am here to seek help for the women of Nigeria.”

She spoke not with defeat, but with defiance. The Nigerian Senate had tried to erase her, yet here she stood—her voice louder than ever.

“Again, my name is Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Five days ago, on the 6th of March, 2025, I was suspended. As a senator, I was suspended illegally because I submitted a petition of sexual harassment against the president of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.”

The room fell silent as she continued.

“I thought that by submitting the petition, he would recuse himself and both of us would submit ourselves to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petition for a fair and transparent investigation. Unfortunately, I was silenced and I was suspended.”

With these words, she tore apart the lie of democracy in Nigeria’s Senate. She had followed the law, she had trusted the system, and the system had repaid her with political death.

“I was suspended for six months, amongst many other stringent conditions, such as taking away my security and all the officials, vehicles, and other items handed over to me as a senator. My salaries would be cut off. I must not appear anywhere near the National Assembly. And for six months, I’m not to introduce myself or present myself as a senator locally in Nigeria or internationally.”

This was not just a suspension—it was total erasure. They did not want to just remove her from the Senate chambers; they wanted to make sure she no longer existed in any capacity as a leader.

“That means I am here illegally. But I have no other place to go but to come here and speak to you women. Because this is a bigger picture.”

Her suspension was not an isolated incident. It was a message. A warning to all women who dared to think they could challenge the status quo.

A System That Fears Women in Power

“This is a bigger picture. It depicts the crisis of women’s political representation. My suspension is not just about me. It’s about the systemic exclusion of women from political leadership in Nigeria. Women make up 3.6 percent of political office-holders. And in the Senate, it’s just 2.8. We have 109 men, and only four of us are women. So right now, it’s 108 with only three women.”

She exposed a brutal truth—women in Nigeria’s Senate are not just a minority; they are nearly invisible.

“This is a clear case of political victimization, punishment for speaking out against insecurity, corruption, and gender-based violence. The United Nations Declaration 48/104 declares sexual harassment as a form of gender violence.”

Her words cut deep. The Nigerian Senate did not just silence her; they silenced an entire movement for justice and fairness.

“The Senate action is an assault on democracy. I was elected by my constituents to represent them, yet a few powerful men have unilaterally decided to silence their voices by suspending me for six months. My call for an open and transparent investigation into harassment allegations has been met with hostility instead of accountability.”

This was not just about one senator. This was about the fate of Nigerian democracy itself.

“If a female senator can be treated this way in the full view of the world, imagine what women in Nigeria go through every day, in workplaces and in universities.”

The Nigerian Senate had set a dangerous precedent—if they could destroy a senator this easily, what chance did ordinary Nigerian women have?

Selective Justice: Protecting the Accused, Punishing the Accuser

Neda Imasuen, the Chair of the Senate Committee handling the petition, had simply responded with a neutral and responsible approach—if he had said, “We will examine this petition, we will invite both the accuser and the accused to present their sides, and we will let the facts guide us”—perhaps Nigeria’s Senate would have had a different story to tell. But Imasuen did not say that.

Instead, his first instinct was to throw the petition out, calling it “dead on arrival” because Akpoti-Uduaghan had personally signed the document, an alleged violation of Senate rules.

This technicality, this desperate excuse, was used to shield the accused from scrutiny while burdening the accuser with yet another hurdle. Only after she corrected this so-called procedural flaw by obtaining a signature from her constituent’s member was the petition accepted.

But what did acceptance mean in this case?

It meant nothing.

Because the very same day the petition was formally submitted for review, the Senate executed its real plan. They did not call for a hearing. They did not debate the petition. They did not discuss the gravity of a sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President.

Instead, they turned their full attention toward punishing the woman who had dared to demand justice.

Her six-month suspension, the stripping of her privileges, the prohibition against identifying as a senator—this was not the pursuit of justice. This was retribution.

Two Approaches to Justice—The World is Watching

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has acknowledged her complaint and has promised to examine the matter. But what will come of it?

Will Akpabio ever face an investigation?

Will the Nigerian Senate be forced to answer for why they ignored a sexual harassment claim while swiftly punishing the woman who made it?

For now, two truths remain clear:

Ogbara’s words at the UN reflected what justice should look like.

The Senate’s actions at home reflected what power preservation looks like.

One sought truth. The other sought revenge.

One represented the hope of a fair society. The other confirmed the reality of a broken one.

The world is watching. Will Nigeria’s Senate answer?

John Egbeazien Oshodi

Oshodi Open Door, also known as Oshodi Open Door Public Training (OOPDT, pronounced opidt), is a public awareness initiative promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in Africa through educational articles and resources at jos5930458@aol.com, and offers specialized Timely Response Solutions (TRS) training at minimal or no cost.

Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi is an American psychologist, educator, author specializing in forensic clinical psychology, cross-cultural psychology, police prison science, social justice. Born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, he is the son of a 37-year veteran of the Nigeria Police Force, a background that shaped his commitment to justice, security, psychological research.

A pioneer in forensic psychology, he introduced state-of-the-art forensic psychology to Nigeria in 2011 through the National Universities Commission (NUC) Nasarawa State University, where he served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. His contributions extend beyond academia into psychological health behavioral change initiatives through the Oshodi Foundation the Center for Psychological Forensic Services.

Professor Oshodi has held faculty positions at Florida Memorial University, Florida International University, Broward College, Nova Southeastern University, Lynn University. He is also a contributing faculty member in the doctoral undergraduate psychology programs at Walden University serves as a virtual professor with Weldios University and Iscom University.

Beyond academia, he is a government consultant for forensic-clinical psychological services in the USA previously served as Interim Associate Dean Assistant Professor at Broward College, Florida.

He has published extensively on mental health, justice, institutional reform is the founder of the Psychoafricalysis theory, which integrates African sociocultural perspectives into psychology.

Professor Oshodi remains an influential force in advancing psychology institutional reform globally, particularly in Africa.