Year: 2025

 

The legal team of suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has received a formal summons in the case filed against her by the Federal Government at the Federal Capital Territory High Court last week.

 

On Friday, May 16, 2025, the Federal Government filed the suit, marked CR/297/25, over alleged defamatory remarks made during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.

 

The government accused the senator of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person”, citing Section 391 of the Penal Code, cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.

 

Among the witnesses listed to testify during the trial were Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

 

Others include Asuquo Ekpenyong, a senator; Sandra Duru; Maya Iliya, investigating police officers; and Abdulhafiz Garba, investigating police officers.

 

However, in a statement issued Friday night by Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN) on behalf of the legal team, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyers confirmed receipt of the formal summons and pledged to prepare all “factual and statutory defences” available to the lawmaker during trial.

 

“At about 2:30pm on Friday, May 23, 2025, within the premises of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, we received the information filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, containing three counts alleging that our client, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, made imputations she had reason to believe would harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the 10th Senate,” the statement read.

 

“We received the said information on her behalf through a letter of authority duly issued and filed in the court’s registry.

 

“The legal team will fully prepare and present all factual and statutory defences available to our client during the trial.”

Natasha was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following her seating arrangement altercation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

 

The lawmaker described her suspension as illegal, unjust, and a deliberate attempt to silence her.

 

She also dismissed the Senate’s claim that her suspension had nothing to do with her sexual harassment allegation.

 

In the weeks that followed, the Kogi senator filed multiple petitions and leveled fresh allegations against the Senate President.

 

In April, Akpabio petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the assassination allegation made against him by Akpoti-Uduaghan.

He called for an immediate investigation and prosecution of the senator under relevant laws for “criminal defamation, incitement, false accusation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.”

 

Former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, had also petitioned the IGP over Natasha’s claims, alleging that he was behind the move to recall her from the Senate.

 

She had accused Bello of acting on Akpabio’s orders to plot her assassination outside Abuja, in a way that would make it appear like a mob or local attack.

 

Novak Djokovic moved to within one win of securing his 100th ATP title by defeating a battling Cameron Norrie to reach the final of a clay-court event in Geneva on Friday.

 

The 24-time Grand Slam champion, playing in Switzerland to warm up for the French Open, missed a match point in the second set before eventually winning 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-1.

 

“It was the toughest match of the tournament for me so far, three sets,” said Djokovic.

 

“(In) the second set, he was a break up and I managed to come back to the tie-break, (I had) a match point, I got a little bit tight there. But I’m really glad how I regrouped in the third and played the best set of the tournament.”

 

Djokovic will attempt to secure his first tournament victory since winning Olympic gold in Paris last summer when he faces Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in Saturday’s final.

 

He is aiming to become only the third player to reach a century of ATP titles after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer.

 

The 38-year-old is playing in his first event since splitting from his coach and old rival, Andy Murray.

 

He also lost both of his previous matches on clay this season before this week, but appears to be finding form ahead of the start of Roland Garros on Sunday.

Djokovic will start his bid for a fourth French Open triumph and record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title when he faces American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round.

 

On Friday, he took the first set against former Wimbledon semi-finalist Norrie courtesy of a break in the seventh game.

 

The Serb battled back from 5-2 down in the second set to force a tie-break, but saw a match point come and go as Britain’s Norrie sent the tie into a decider.

 

But Djokovic raced into a 3-0 lead in the third, losing just one point across those first three games.

 

He closed it out on his second match point after another run of three straight games.

 

Former world number six Hurkacz saw off 128th-ranked Austrian Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 6-4 to reach his first final since losing to Jannik Sinner in Halle last June.

 

‎‎The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States have stressed the need to strengthen current collaboration between the two agencies in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

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‎This was the high point of discussion during a meeting between the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa and the Country Attache of US-DEA, Ms Daphne Morrison on Friday in Abuja.

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‎In a statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the Country Attache of US-DEA appreciated Marwa for the cordial working relationship and partnership between NDLEA and DEA.

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‎Morrison, who was recently posted to Nigeria, said, “I wanted to make this one of my priorities to come to meet with you so we can continue to collaborate and work together.

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‎“And thank you so much for your support over the years, and we’re ready to keep things going.

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‎“I know you’ve been working well with the last Country Attaché, so I’m ready to get back in and collaborate and do some really great things with you.”

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‎Morrison also said efforts were ongoing to organise more training for officers and men of the Special Operations Units of the NDLEA.

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‎She added that the US-DEA was looking forward to several joint operations with NDLEA in already identified areas of interest.

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‎In his response, the NDLEA boss acknowledged the excellent relationships with Morrison’s predecessors.

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‎“They’ve been very, very supportive, and I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that it will be the same, if not better, with you,” he said.

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‎Marwa noted the recent evolution of NDLEA in the size of its workforce and expansion of operational and administrative structures.

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‎This, he said, was responsible for the remarkable successes recorded in its drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

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‎He acknowledged the support received from DEA over the years especially in areas of equipment, training, and joint operations, while expressing hope that more of such support would continue.

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‎“I think we would welcome much more support but because this being your first visit to introduce yourself, I’m not going to bring out a long list of demands or requests.

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‎“But, this is just to acknowledge that we appreciate all the support we’ve been receiving,” he said.

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‎NAN

 

The Special Reconciliation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party chaired by former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Friday, met with Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and leader of the party in the South East in a desperate efforts to stem the tide of crisis rocking the party.

 

Other members of the committee present at the meeting, which held behind closed doors at the Government House, Enugu, were former governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson, and former governor of Gombe State, Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo.

 

The leaders of the PDP in the South East zone had in a communique issued after the South East PDP Zonal Executive Council meeting a fortnight ago announced the re-nomination of former PDP National Youth Leader, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, to serve out the remaining tenure of the National Secretary, threatening possible exodus should their decision not be respected.

 

“In the event that our position is not promptly implemented by the Party, the South East PDP, as a family, will be compelled to reconsider our relationship with the PDP going forward,” the communique stated.

 

But addressing newsmen after the closed-door meeting with Mbah, Saraki emphasised the importance of the South East in the PDP.

 

He said, “We are members of the PDP Reconciliation and Strategy Committee that was set up recently by the PDP Governors’ Forum to work towards ensuring that our upcoming National Executive Council meeting and also likely convention is rancour-free and and works smoothly.

“In line with that, we are here in Enugu State to consult with one of our leaders, Governor Peter Mbah, who is the leader of the South East PDP. This is the first state we are coming to because we appreciate the importance of the South East in our PDP family.

 

“As you all know, the South East has played a key role as the bedrock of the popularity and the strength of our party.

 

“In recognition of that, we are here to consult with him and first commend him on the leadership role he has been playing in the party. More importantly, to commend what he is doing in Enugu State, which is a reflection for Nigerians to see what happens when you have a PDP government.

 

“In doing that, we discussed how we will ensure that we carry out the assignment given to us and go ahead to have our NEC and our convention. We will have one that is rancor-free and smooth, peaceful, and lays the foundation for the PDP that we all are wishing for.

 

“We have had a very good discussion. Frankly, we have had a very, very useful discussion. We are going away with some of the suggestions that we have here and hopefully work on that. With this, we can say here in Enugu, we laid the foundation for a greater new PDP that is coming.

 

“What we have also seen today is that there is nothing insurmountable in the challenge ahead, and the spirit, the commitment of all of us, especially our leaders, is very, very inspiring.”

 

A man identified as Okoli Emeka has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for defacing Naira notes during an event held in Isheri-Olofin, within the Alimosho area of Lagos.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission disclosed this in a statement released on Friday, revealing that the defendant was arraigned by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1.

 

PUNCH Online learnt that Emeka allegedly defaced a total of two million Naira during the event last year, a claim supported by video evidence presented to the court.

 

Emeka faced a single-count charge of tampering with and stepping on Naira notes before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

 

The charge reads: “That you, Okoli Frank Emeka, on the 18th day of August, 2024, at Al-Moruf Garden, Isheri Olofin, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst stepping on the Naira notes during a social occasion, tampered with the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, by stepping on the same at the said occasion, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”

 

Upon hearing the charge, Emeka pleaded guilty. Following this, the prosecution counsel, Z.B. Atiku, presented a summary of the case through Sa’id Sada Sani, an EFCC investigator.

In his testimony, Sani stated that the Commission launched an intelligence-led investigation after a viral video surfaced showing the defacement of Naira notes.

 

He further explained, “Surveillance was carried out, leading to the arrest of the defendant on May 15, 2025.

 

“He was shown a video of himself spraying the money and subsequently made a statement regarding the incident.”

 

The court accepted the defendant’s statements and the video recordings as evidence.

 

Atiku then urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.

 

Justice Aneke found Emeka guilty and sentenced him to six months imprisonment, with the option of paying a fine of N250,000 as an alternative.

 

A former National Vice Chairman (Northwest) of the All Progressives Congress, Salihu Lukman, has expressed concern that the ruling party is gradually moving away from its founding ideals of progressivism toward a structure that resembles centralised control.

 

Lukman, who spoke on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, on Friday, lamented that internal contests had been abandoned in favour of automatic adoptions.

 

While reflecting on his role in the formation of the APC, he expressed disappointment in the party’s current direction, claiming it had drifted from its founding ideals.

 

“The APC has moved from a party envisioned to be progressive to almost a monarchy.

 

“As it is now, the APC mantra is that there will be no internal contest in 2027 — the President is adopted. All their governors are adopted. Legislators are also adopted,” he added.

 

Lukman also said none of the political parties in Nigeria function as real parties in the classical sense.

 

According to him, political organisations that do not uphold their constitutions or hold regular internal meetings cannot be considered true parties.

 

“Any party whose elected representatives are not accountable is not a party in the classical sense,” he said.

 

The former APC National Vice Chairman (Northwest), however, revealed that negotiations for a new opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 elections were in their final stages.

 

He said discussions had been ongoing for over a year to establish a viable platform capable of challenging the current political status quo.

According to Lukman, the coalition aims to contest the 2027 general elections by either forming a new political party or transforming an existing one.

 

He said, “There is nothing stopping the coalition from coming to fruition.

 

“Even when the governors claimed, for instance, they were not part of the coalition, we responded clearly. Some of them, as you have seen, either have already moved to the APC or are on their way to move to the APC.

 

“So, clearly, they are doing the bidding of the APC and the ‘Asiwaju’ government. So, we are not bothered about that. We have the PDP bloc in the coalition and nothing is stopping the coalition.

“We are going through a painstaking process and very soon, we are going to come out and clarify all the details, in terms of how we are going to contest the 2027 elections and the leaders of the coalition; all those will be known.”

 

On the rationale behind the coalition effort, Lukman explained that the main crisis facing Nigeria’s democracy was the absence of genuine political parties.

 

He, however, noted that efforts are now focused on negotiating with an existing party to transform it structurally and ideologically.

 

He explained that conditions set by the coalition include a complete leadership overhaul, constitutional reforms, and a new internal culture where candidates emerge through transparent contests.

 

He stated that the coalition was not merely seeking to win power but to redefine Nigeria’s political landscape.

 

“We want to present to Nigerians a new reality that addresses all the frustrations. We want to ensure that internally, winners emerge through contests, and when people win elections, they are accountable to the party,” Lukman added.

 

The Federal Capital Territory Administration will, from Monday, May 26th, 2025, commence the physical takeover of 4,794 properties whose land titles were revoked over non-payment of ground rent spanning between 10 and 43 years.

 

This was announced on Friday at a joint press briefing by the FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka; the Director of Land Administration, Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze; and the Director of Development Control, Mr. Mukhtar Galadima.

 

The FCTA says the revocation of the titles was carried out in accordance with the Land Use Act, particularly Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b), which empowers government to reclaim land for violations of the terms of occupancy.

 

According to the officials, the government will begin exercising its right of ownership on the properties located across key districts in the Federal Capital City, including Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape.

 

“Ownership of the revoked 4,794 properties in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape districts had already reverted to the FCTA.

 

“And as from Monday, next week, the government will begin to exercise its rights of ownership on the affected landed properties.

 

“As usual, this will be done without consideration as to ownership of the affected landed properties. It will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process,” they stated.

 

Recall that on March 18th 2025, the FCTA announced that 4,794 properties, part of a larger list of 8,375 properties in default, among which was the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party currently under construction in the Central Business District, had failed to pay ground rent for at least a decade, with some defaults running as far back as 43 years,

 

The administration disclosed that the property owners owed more than N6.96 billion in ground rent, leading to the revocation.

However the Wike-led administration had also granted a 21-day deadline within which those who owed the rents under 10 years could make payments, after which the titles will also be revoked.

 

Speaking during the press conference, the Director of Land, Nwankwoeze, explained that the grace period had elapsed and that the titles will be revoked in line with extant laws of the FCT.

 

“Relevant agencies of the FCTA are already compiling records of compliance and non-compliance with this directive, with a view to acting accordingly.

 

“It is important to state that payment of Ground Rent on landed properties in the FCT is founded on extant legislation.

 

“It is clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of the grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January, each year, without demand,” he stated.

Responding to reports that some of the property owners had taken legal action, Nwankwoeze clarified that “there was no court decision on the revocation, and as such, the FCTA is not restricted in the discharge of its lawful functions on the affected properties.”

 

Galadima, Director of Development Control, stated that the exercise would involve sealing off the affected properties and restricting access to them from Monday, and that the FCTA will decide what to do with the affected properties in due course.

 

The initial default list was drawn from ten of the oldest districts in Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City, covering: Central Area District (Cadastral Zone A00), Garki I (Cadastral Zone A01), Wuse I (Cadastral Zone A02), Garki II (Cadastral Zone A03), and Asokoro (Cadastral Zone A04).

 

Others are Maitama (Cadastral Zone A05 and A06), Wuse II (Cadastral Zones A07 and A08), and Guzape (Cadastral Zone A09).

 

Pep Guardiola has revealed the Manchester City hierarchy support his desire to slash his underachieving squad next season regardless of their last-day bid to qualify for the Champions League.

 

The deposed champions head to Fulham on Sunday needing one point to be certain of avoiding a first season without Champions League action since 2010/11.

 

With the top five in the Premier League guaranteed to reach Europe’s elite club competition, City are two points clear of sixth-placed Aston Villa with a vastly superior goal difference.

 

Defeat in London could spell disaster after their shock FA Cup final loss against Crystal Palace last week.

 

But whatever happens at Craven Cottage, City manager Guardiola is convinced he must work with a smaller group next season.

 

Speaking after Tuesday’s win against Bournemouth, the City boss threatened to quit if he was unable to reduce the squad because it was “impossible for my soul” to make so many players unhappy by leaving them out.

 

But on Friday he played down his threat to resign and insisted he has the support of his employers to cut his squad.

 

“I was laughing when I said that,” Guardiola said. “I’m not going to quit. But the expression is the same, I don’t want players at home with their families when the team is playing.

 

“In the last three weeks, we had four, five or six players at home — that is not healthy for any of us, for them especially, for me and the club.

 

“The club knows it and agrees with me. We will find a solution. Everyone has to have the chance to compete.”

 

City started the season gunning for a fifth straight Premier League title but have been reduced to fighting for a Champions League berth.

But at the end of his first trophyless campaign since 2016/17, Guardiola is relieved his team have their Champions League fate in their own hands.

 

“It’s been a really tough season,” he said. “I knew it would come down to the last day in the 95th minute and I was not wrong.”

 

The City boss has already decided to let midfielder Kevin De Bruyne leave when his contract expires at the end of the season and more changes are certain.

“I’m completely focused on Sunday and after the club will take the decisions they have to take,” he said.

 

Guardiola also said he wants to help Phil Foden after the winger admitted he has struggled mentally this season.

 

Foden, left out of the England squad on Friday, has been hampered by an ankle injury, failing to recapture the form he showed last season, when he was voted by his fellow professionals as player of the year.

 

“We want to help him and that’s the most important thing,” said Guardiola.

 

“I don’t care about his performance, I just want him to feel good because then the rest will come in an easy way.”

 

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has asked all commissioners and political appointees in his cabinet to either join him in defecting to the All Progressives Congress or step down from their positions.

 

According to a video shared by Channels TV on Friday, the governor spoke during a State Executive Council meeting on Thursday.

 

Eno confirmed his planned defection to the APC and made it clear that only those willing to join him would remain in his government.

 

“It’s no more news that I’m moving party. If you don’t know that by now, I don’t know what else you know,” Eno said.

 

He stressed that loyalty to him as governor was essential, adding that anyone unwilling to align politically should prepare to resign the day he formally announces his move.

 

“I am told that some of you are saying that you will not come, you are free, absolutely free, not to join me, but you won’t be in my state executive council.

“So, you better just be prepared to resign the day I announce that I’m moving because you are an appointee and your loyalty is to me.

 

“You can’t be in my cabinet and play anti-party, it’s not a threat, it is what it is. I won’t beg you to come, you should normally not even expect it,” he stated.

 

Eno cited ongoing internal issues within the Peoples Democratic Party as part of his reason for leaving, saying he could no longer trust the party’s ability to ensure a smooth electoral process.

 

Eno added, “I love the PDP, I want to stay in the PDP, but clearly, I don’t have a road map to guarantee that I’ll be able to have a smooth sail in the elections, not because we won’t win elections.

 

“In this state today, with the work that all of us have done, even if we contest on a zero party, we will win this election. There’s no doubt about it. We’ve worked very hard, but we know that at the national level, that our party is not coming together.

 

“Every day, secretary this and that, and so you take your form, they send it to INEC, and then you run all the elections, you perhaps win the elections and just on technical grounds, because the wrong person signed your form, you lose everything.”

 

 

Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed at least 16 people on Friday across the Palestinian territory, where Israel has ramped up its military offensive in recent days.

 

The toll from “Israeli strikes in various areas across the Gaza Strip since midnight” totalled 16 dead, agency official Mohammed al-Mughayyir told AFP.

 

He said there were also dozens of people wounded in the attacks, which mainly hit the centre and south of the territory.

 

In Gaza’s north, Al-Awda hospital reported Friday that three of its staff were injured “after Israeli quadcopter drones dropped bombs” on the facility.

The Israeli army said that over the past day, its forces had attacked “military compounds, weapons storage facilities and sniper posts” in Gaza.

 

“In addition, the (air force) struck over 75 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip,” it added.

 

Aid began trickling into the Gaza Strip on Monday for the first time in more than two months, amid mounting condemnation of an Israeli blockade that has sparked severe shortages of food and medicine.

 

COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that oversees civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, said that on Thursday, 107 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza.

The UN’s World Food Programme said the following day that 15 of its trucks “were looted late last night in southern Gaza, while en route to WFP-supported bakeries.”

 

WFP executive director Cindy McCain had previously said some aid was finally reaching Gazans, “but it’s moving far too slowly.”

 

Israel resumed major operations in Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire.

 

On Friday, Gaza’s health ministry said at least 3,673 people had been killed in the territory since then, taking the war’s overall toll to 53,822, mostly civilians.

 

Hamas’s October 2023 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

 

Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34, the Israeli military says, are dead.