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BREAKING: Senator Natasha Must Face Criminal Charges – FG

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Natasha Speaks Out On Alleged Plot Against Tinubu's Govt

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has insisted that the defamation charges filed against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan were properly instituted in line with the provisions of the Penal Code Law of Nigeria and the Constitution.

The AGF’s office stated this in its response to the senator’s preliminary objection to the three-count criminal charge pending before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, presided over by Justice Chizoba Oji.

The charges against Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, stemmed from petitions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, following her public claims that the duo had conspired to assassinate her.

In its counter-affidavit, the AGF’s office maintained that the decision to prosecute the senator was taken after a comprehensive investigation by the Nigeria Police Force, which reviewed all petitions from both the complainants and the defendant.

“The three counts were preferred against the defendant pursuant to the Penal Code Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in the bona fide exercise of the prosecutorial powers of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation as guaranteed under the Constitution,” the prosecution stated.

It further argued that the senator’s actions contravened provisions of the law, stressing that the case was filed “in the public interest, the interest of justice, and to prevent abuse of legal process.”

According to the AGF’s office, the charges were neither politically motivated nor an abuse of prosecutorial power.

“The criminal charge against the defendant arose from the comprehensive and conclusive investigation of the case, including all petitions and parties involved, by the Nigeria Police Force.”

“The charge against the defendant is consistent with extant laws and does not constitute an abuse of the legal or prosecutorial powers of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation,” the document read.

At the last sitting on September 23, defence counsel Ehighioge West-Idahosa (SAN) had filed a preliminary objection challenging the validity of the charges.

He argued that the AGF’s office had overreached its constitutional powers, describing the prosecution as an abuse of process.

According to him, the objection was not contesting the facts of the case but rather the legality and jurisdictional competence of the AGF to initiate such charges.

The objection, filed on September 18, was yet to receive a response from the prosecution at the time of the previous hearing.

When the matter came up on Monday, prosecuting counsel David Kaswe informed the court that although the case was slated for hearing, the prosecution’s counter-affidavit had not been properly served on the defence.

He explained that the document was delivered to an incorrect address and requested a short adjournment to rectify the error.

“It would not be fair for the prosecution to proceed when the defence has indicated its intention to respond to our counter,” Kaswe told the court.

Responding, West-Idahosa confirmed that the defence team had not been served and would only respond after receiving the document. He also requested a longer adjournment, citing plans by the defence team to attend the International Bar Association (IBA) Conference in Canada.

After listening to both sides, Justice Oji granted the request and adjourned the matter to December 1, 2025, for hearing of the preliminary objection.

The case, marked FCT/HC/CR/297/25, accuses Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of making harmful and defamatory statements against Akpabio and Bello, including allegations that they plotted to assassinate her and that the Senate President was linked to the death of Miss Iniobong Umoren.

The senator was arraigned on June 19 and pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

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Fuel Subsidy: Fayemi Blames Jonathan

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Former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has drawn a comparison between former President Goodluck Jonathan and President Bola Tinubu’s approach to subsidy removal.

Naija News reports that Fayemi, while speaking at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference held on Tuesday in Abuja, reflected on Nigeria’s economic policies, leadership values, and the courage needed to make tough governance decisions.

Fayemi blamed Jonathan for lacking the courage to implement the removal of the fuel subsidy during his administration, despite having the support of key stakeholders at the time.

He revealed that, contrary to public perception, many governors under Jonathan’s administration, including himself, supported the removal of fuel subsidy, even though the then-opposition party, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), opposed it politically.

Fayemi criticized Jonathan for bowing to political pressure instead of standing firm on what he believed was an economically sound policy.

In contrast to Jonathan, Fayemi commended Tinubu for showing decisive leadership by ending the fuel subsidy from the first day of his administration, despite the economic and political backlash that followed.

He said, “When we’re talking about 2012 Occupy Nigeria and the opposition to President Jonathan, the truth of the matter was that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, of which I was a member, were the major advocates for subsidy removal.

“Yes, my party, the Action Congress of Nigeria at the time, did not support subsidy removal. In fact, I and Oshiomhole were active promoters of it in all the town hall meetings that were held at the time.”

“I think when people want to blame the opposition for not lining up behind President Jonathan, there’s something to be said for President Jonathan lacking the conviction to go ahead to do what he believed in and ensure that subsidy is removed.

“What did President Tinubu do? He came in and said subsidy is gone from day one. He could have opted out of it, especially when the pressure started mounting in the first month and prices began to rise. But he stayed on course and that is the courage we must commend him for.”

However, Fayemi cautioned that while policy courage is important, managing the aftermath of such bold economic decisions is equally critical.

He added, “The devil is always in the detail. What comes after is how you manage it so that the population does not feel a sense of loss, as they are feeling at this particular point in time.”

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BREAKING: US Bans Wole Soyinka, Revokes Visa

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Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on Tuesday revealed that the United States of America has revoked his visa, preventing him from entering the country for now.

Soyinka made the disclosure during a media briefing at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island, stating that he was unaware of any wrongdoing that might have led to the revocation.

“It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that those in the United States expecting me for events do not waste their time. I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me,” he told journalists.

The reason for the visa revocation remains unclear. Soyinka said he was still in the dark about the decision. The US Consulate reportedly informed him of the revocation in a letter dated 23 October 2025.

“This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations,” the letter from the NIV Section of the Consulate, shown to reporters by Soyinka, read.

Expressing confusion over the development, Soyinka said: “I’m still reviewing my past history. I have no criminal record, felony, or misdemeanour that would justify this revocation.

“I’ve started reflecting—have I ever misbehaved toward the United States? Do I have a history? Have I ever gone against the law anywhere?”

He further stated that, This is not a personal matter. Initially, I suspected the letter might be a scam, perhaps part of an advance-fee fraud targeting visa applicants.

“Only after verifying its authenticity did I consider it genuine. My relationship with US ambassadors, consuls general, and cultural attachés has always been courteous, making this development all the more puzzling,” he said

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Terrorists Threaten To Bomb National Assembly

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The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, has disclosed that terrorists have issued threats to bomb the National Assembly Complex.

Naija News reports that Garba made the revelation on Tuesday during a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish a Legislative Security Directorate, designed to enhance security management and safeguard lawmakers, staff, and visitors within the National Assembly.

“We have received threats from terrorists to bomb the National Assembly Complex and threats from protesters to lock up the National Assembly,” Garba stated.

The lawmaker said the legislature, Nigeria’s seat of democracy, has been increasingly exposed to security threats including car and motorcycle theft, vandalism, infiltration by unregistered visitors, and use of fake identity cards.

He warned that failure to address the lapses could disrupt legislative activities with grave implications for governance and democracy.

He cautioned, “It is obvious that with the ongoing security challenges, if proper measures are not taken, it will truncate legislative activities in the National Assembly. If activities are thwarted, there will be no representation, no oversight, no annual budget, no plenary at all, and that will destabilize legislative procedure, democracy, and the nation at large.”

According to Garba, effective security management requires a coordinated approach, integrating multiple elements to ensure a safe environment for legislative business.

“That is why this Bill is very important. It seeks to address all these challenges and adopt world best practices in parliamentary security procedures and architecture,” he explained.

The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment and Functions of the Legislative Security Directorate in the National Assembly (HB 1632)”, was considered at the House of Representatives Conference Hall 028 in Abuja.

While acknowledging the need for the National Assembly to remain open to the public as a democratic institution, Garba stressed that access must not come at the expense of security.

“The need for effective security measures in the National Assembly cannot be overemphasized because Parliament has to remain accessible to the public. However, this Bill is committed to ensuring the best security architecture in the National Assembly, to protect legislators, staff, visitors, and property,” he said.

Garba further urged state Houses of Assembly across the federation to emulate the initiative by adopting similar frameworks to enhance legislative security nationwide.

“With these few points of mine, I wish us a peaceful and fruitful hearing that will ultimately bring a turnaround in the National Assembly’s security architecture,” he concluded.

 


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