metro
Akpabio family feud deepens as sister-in-law accuses Senate President of involvement in killings
Akpabio family feud deepens as sister-in-law accuses Senate President of involvement in killings
A fresh storm is brewing within the family of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following a scathing social media outburst by his sister-in-law, Pastor Pat Akpabio.
In a viral Facebook video posted on October 11, Pat accused the former Akwa Ibom State governor of complicity in several unresolved killings that occurred during and after his tenure.
“For all the people you have killed when you were governor and those killed now that you are in the Senate, it will never be well with you,” she said in the emotional outburst directed at the Senate President.
Pat, a pastor and businesswoman, is married to Mr. Akpabio’s younger brother, Ibanga Akpabio, who is widely credited with introducing the Senate President to Akwa Ibom politics in the late 1990s. Ibanga reportedly facilitated his brother’s appointment as a commissioner under then-Governor Victor Attah—a political launchpad that eventually made Godswill Akpabio governor in 2007 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
During his years in power, Akpabio’s family members, including Ibanga, wielded immense influence in the state’s political and economic circles. They were often referred to as the Ukana Ikot Ntuen Cabal, named after the family’s hometown in Essien Udim Local Government Area.
READ ALSO:
- Ex-PDP Senator Ben Murray-Bruce joins APC, backs Tinubu for 2027
- One person killed as troops shell terrorists hideout in Taraba
- BBNaija star, Phyna, fights dirty over N200,000 dispute
However, the once-powerful family has since fractured.
Tensions reportedly worsened after Ibanga and other relatives backed Akpabio’s rivals during the 2023 elections.
In her latest tirade, Pat accused the Senate President of betrayal, ingratitude, and political manipulation.
She vowed to challenge him in the 2027 senatorial election, describing him as a man “unworthy of the people’s trust.”
“When you finish, go home. This is your quit notice. Nigerians don’t know who you are. When they do, they’ll know you are a very wicked man,” she said, urging President Bola Tinubu to be cautious in dealing with him.
Pat also alleged that Akpabio accused her husband of murder and theft of campaign funds after his 2019 senatorial defeat. “I stood by you in 2019 when everyone turned against you. Did I collect 10 kobo from you?” she asked, challenging him to publicly respond to her claims.
Akpabio’s Response
Reacting through his spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President dismissed the allegations as “baseless political vendetta.”
“Killing is a serious offence under our criminal laws. Any citizen who truly has evidence should report to law enforcement agencies rather than make social media accusations,” Eyiboh said on Monday.
He described Akpabio as “a humble and family-oriented man” whose busy schedule does not allow him to engage in domestic disputes. “She is simply seeking attention. The Senate President is too busy for that,” he added.
When reminded of persistent allegations of politically motivated killings during Akpabio’s administration, Eyiboh argued that insecurity in the state was part of a broader national challenge.
“You can’t say that President Tinubu is the one bombing people because insecurity exists under his administration.”
Akpabio family feud deepens as sister-in-law accuses Senate President of involvement in killings
metro
Court Sends Chris Ngige to Kuje Prison on EFCC’s N2.2bn Fraud Charges
Court Sends Chris Ngige to Kuje Prison on EFCC’s N2.2bn Fraud Charges
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gwarinpa has ordered the remand of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in Kuje prison pending the hearing of his bail application.
Justice Maryam Hassan issued the order on Friday after Ngige pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
READ ALSO:
- Super Eagles Coach Names Final 28-Man Squad for 2025 AFCON in Morocco
- EFCC Arraigns Peace Corps Commandant, Finance Director Over Alleged ₦46m Fraud
- CBN, NCC to Introduce Industry-Wide Short Code for Banking Complaints
The former minister, who served from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, is being prosecuted for his alleged role in a N2.2 billion contract fraud. The charges include abuse of office and accusations that he received kickbacks from companies that secured contracts from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
The court ruled that Ngige should remain in custody until Monday, when his bail application will be heard.
Court Sends Chris Ngige to Kuje Prison on EFCC’s N2.2bn Fraud Charges
metro
Supreme Court Reinstates Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda Despite Tinubu’s Pardon
Supreme Court Reinstates Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda Despite Tinubu’s Pardon
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reaffirmed the death sentence imposed on Maryam Sanda, daughter-in-law of a former PDP chairman, for the culpable homicide of her husband, Bilyamin Bello, in 2017.
Sanda was convicted by an Abuja High Court on January 27, 2020, and sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of stabbing her husband to death at their Abuja residence. She had spent six years and eight months in Suleja prison before President Bola Tinubu reduced her punishment to 12 years under the recent presidential pardon initiative.
READ ALSO:
- Super Eagles Coach Names Final 28-Man Squad for 2025 AFCON in Morocco
- EFCC Arraigns Peace Corps Commandant, Finance Director Over Alleged ₦46m Fraud
- CBN, NCC to Introduce Industry-Wide Short Code for Banking Complaints
According to the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the clemency was granted on “compassionate grounds” and in the “best interest of the children,” noting Sanda’s good conduct, reformed behaviour, and remorse during incarceration.
However, in a split decision of four to one, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court on Friday overturned the executive intervention and reaffirmed the original death sentence. Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Moore Adumein ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The apex court upheld the earlier decisions of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal, describing them as sound and unassailable. It further held that President Tinubu lacked the constitutional authority to issue a pardon in a homicide case that was still under judicial review.
Sanda’s appeal was dismissed for lacking merit, bringing a definitive close to one of Nigeria’s most widely followed murder conviction cases.
Supreme Court Reinstates Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda Despite Tinubu’s Pardon
metro
Mother, 10-Month-Old Baby Murdered in Katsina Over Alleged Paternity Dispute
Mother, 10-Month-Old Baby Murdered in Katsina Over Alleged Paternity Dispute
A woman and her 10-month-old baby have been found murdered in Sheme village, Faskari Local Government Area, Katsina State, in what authorities believe was linked to a paternity dispute.
The Katsina State Police Command confirmed that detectives are investigating the incident. In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said 35-year-old Sahabi Rabi’u has been arrested in connection with the killings, while a second suspect remains at large.
READ ALSO:
- Super Eagles Coach Names Final 28-Man Squad for 2025 AFCON in Morocco
- EFCC Arraigns Peace Corps Commandant, Finance Director Over Alleged ₦46m Fraud
- CBN, NCC to Introduce Industry-Wide Short Code for Banking Complaints
Aliyu explained: “During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and admitted conspiring with a friend, now at large, to lure the victims to the outskirts of Sheme village, where they were killed. The bodies were burnt and thrown into a nearby well.”
Investigations revealed that the murder stemmed from a paternity disagreement, which escalated into a brutal killing. The bodies have been recovered, and the suspect is currently in police custody. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplice.
Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Bello Shehu, condemned the killings as “barbaric and inhumane,” assuring that justice will be served. He appealed to members of the public to provide information that could assist in capturing the second suspect, with guarantees of confidentiality.
Mother, 10-Month-Old Baby Murdered in Katsina Over Alleged Paternity Dispute
-
Business3 days agoNationwide Glo Network Outage Disrupts Data Services Across Nigeria
-
metro3 days agoNigerian Army Foils Terrorist Attack in Sokoto, Neutralises 11 Gunmen
-
Health2 days agoNigeria’s Health Crisis Deepens as Canada Opens Express Entry Route for Foreign Doctors
-
Sports2 days agoLiverpool Overcomes Inter Milan Without Salah, Secures Champions League Progress
-
Politics3 days agoBREAKING: Fubara Dumps PDP for APC Amid Power Shift in Rivers Politics
-
Auto1 day agoNADDC, FRSC Chiefs headline high-stake 2025 NAJA Auto Awards
-
metro2 days agoEFCC Clarifies Operation at Sylva’s Abuja Residence, Denies Forceful Entry
-
metro2 days agoDeadly Lagos Road Accident: Parents, Child Die in Otedola Bridge Multi-Vehicle Crash