A mild drama unfolded on Tuesday at the National Assembly after lawmakers hesitated to second a motion raised by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan concerning the alleged abuse of Nigerian women detained in Libyan prisons.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), called for urgent government intervention to facilitate the repatriation of Nigerian women reportedly being held in harsh conditions across detention centers in Libya.
She alleged that several of the women had been subjected to sexual exploitation by prison officials, with some allegedly forced to bear children while in custody.
During plenary, she urged the Senate to mandate the Nigerian Immigration Service and relevant agencies to work with Libyan authorities to secure the women’s safe and immediate return home.
However, tension briefly filled the chamber when Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for a seconder — a procedural step needed before a motion could be debated. To the surprise of many, no senator immediately rose to second the motion, not even among female lawmakers, leaving the Senate momentarily silent.
The brief standstill was later broken when Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele stood up to second the motion, allowing discussions to proceed.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the red chamber came after a six-month suspension, which followed her earlier allegations of sexual assault against Senate President Akpabio — a development that had stirred nationwide reactions.
