Akpabio Heads to Supreme Court Over Appeal Court Ruling on Natasha’s Suspension - Newstrends
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Akpabio Heads to Supreme Court Over Appeal Court Ruling on Natasha’s Suspension

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Senator Natasha Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio
Senator Natasha Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio

Akpabio Heads to Supreme Court Over Appeal Court Ruling on Natasha’s Suspension

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has taken his legal battle over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn a ruling of the Court of Appeal that struck out the Federal Government’s brief of argument in the case.

Sources in Abuja confirmed that Akpabio’s legal team is asking the apex court to intervene in what it described as a defective decision by the appellate court, which had dismissed the brief on grounds of non-compliance with mandatory provisions of the Court of Appeal Rules.

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal ruled that the brief filed on behalf of the Senate President was fundamentally defective and incompetent. The court cited multiple procedural violations, including the use of unauthorised font size and line spacing, exceeding the prescribed 35-page limit, and failure to seek leave of court to regularise the defects.

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The appellate court held that the infractions were not minor technical lapses but substantive breaches that went to the competence of the appeal, leading to its decision to strike out the brief.

In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Akpabio contends that the Court of Appeal violated his constitutional right to fair hearing by refusing to grant leave to correct the defects or permit him to exceed the page limit.

The dispute has continued to generate political debate, with observers describing it as more than a legal disagreement, but a struggle for authority and control within the Senate. Some analysts view the development as reflecting deeper tensions between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan, whose relationship has reportedly been strained for months.

The Kogi Central senator, a first-term lawmaker, has attracted national attention for her assertive posture and readiness to challenge Senate leadership, a stance insiders say has unsettled existing power structures within the chamber and the ruling party.

Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team has expressed confidence in the judiciary, describing the Supreme Court appeal as a last-ditch effort to overturn a decision reached in line with the law.

Legal analysts have described the Appeal Court ruling as a significant setback for the Senate President, noting that it arose from avoidable procedural errors rather than the substantive merits of the case. They add that the move to the Supreme Court may be aimed at containing the political fallout from the loss rather than reopening the core legal issues.

Akpabio Heads to Supreme Court Over Appeal Court Ruling on Natasha’s Suspension

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Gunmen Attack Gebbe Community in Kebbi, Many Feared Dead

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Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, Bello Muhammad Sani,
Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, Bello Muhammad Sani

Gunmen Attack Gebbe Community in Kebbi, Many Feared Dead

Suspected gunmen have launched a deadly attack on Gebbe community in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, leaving an undisclosed number of people feared dead and several others injured.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants struck suddenly, firing sporadic gunshots that threw the community into panic, forcing residents to flee to neighbouring villages and nearby bushes for safety.

Local sources disclosed that the exact number of casualties could not be immediately ascertained due to the scale of the attack and the displacement of residents. The incident has reportedly left the community, which has not experienced such violence in years, in a state of shock and trauma.

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Confirming the incident, the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, said police operatives have been deployed to the area to assess the situation.

“The police are currently on ground to determine the number of casualties and injured persons. An official statement will be issued as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.

Some residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that security agencies have mobilised to restore calm in the area.

Meanwhile, community members have appealed to the Kebbi State Government and security agencies to provide urgent intervention, describing the attack as unprecedented in the history of Gebbe community.

Gunmen Attack Gebbe Community in Kebbi, Many Feared Dead

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Three Killed, NSCDC Outpost Burnt in Katsina Youths–Police Clash

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Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Katsina State Command, DSP Abubakar Aliyu

Three Killed, NSCDC Outpost Burnt in Katsina Youths–Police Clash

No fewer than three persons were killed and several others injured following violent clashes between youths and security operatives in Katsina metropolis, Katsina State.

The unrest reportedly began late on Friday, December 27, around 10:00 p.m., when police operatives raided suspected criminal hideouts in Sabuwar Unguwa Quarters in an attempt to arrest a suspected drug dealer identified as Uzairu, popularly known as Kuda.

According to the Katsina State Police Command, the suspect resisted arrest and raised an alarm that attracted suspected gang members, who attacked the officers in a bid to free him. During the ensuing struggle, a firearm was discharged, hitting Uzairu. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.

Tension escalated the following day during Uzairu’s funeral procession, as youths allegedly clashed again with security personnel at the graveyard. Two persons were reportedly hit by stray bullets during the confrontation.

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Police authorities confirmed that one of the victims died on arrival at the hospital, while the second is currently receiving treatment.

Amid the violence, the youths allegedly set ablaze a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) outpost and attempted to burn a nearby police outpost before security reinforcements were deployed to the area.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Katsina State Command, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, said the clashes resulted in the death of two civilians, while another injured victim is responding to treatment.

DSP Aliyu explained that during the initial raid, the police team was attacked, an operational vehicle was damaged, and several officers sustained injuries. He added that one policeman was stabbed with a knife while suspects attempted to disarm him.

“During the struggle to secure the rifle, a shot was released, hitting and injuring the suspect, who later died in the hospital,” he said.

He further disclosed that on December 28, suspected miscreants hijacked the funeral procession, attacked security personnel, burned the NSCDC outpost, inflicted a deep machete wound on a policeman, and damaged a police patrol vehicle.

The police spokesperson said calm has been restored following the deployment of additional police and NSCDC personnel to the area.

DSP Aliyu added that the Commissioner of Police has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.

Three Killed, NSCDC Outpost Burnt in Katsina Youths–Police Clash

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Two Killed, 16 Injured in Fuel Tanker Crash at Polo Roundabout in Jos

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Two Killed, 16 Injured in Fuel Tanker Crash at Polo Roundabout in Jos

Two Killed, 16 Injured in Fuel Tanker Crash at Polo Roundabout in Jos

At least two persons were killed and 16 others injured following a fuel tanker crash in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Sunday evening.

The accident occurred near the Polo Field Club Roundabout, close to St. Louis College, when a laden fuel tanker reportedly lost its brakes shortly after the Plateau State Specialist Hospital Roundabout and rammed into several vehicles.

Confirming the incident on Monday, the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Peter Longsan, said emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene to prevent further casualties.

According to Longsan, 18 persons were involved in the crash. Two male adults died on the spot, while 16 injured victims were rushed to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital and Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) for medical treatment. The corpses of the deceased were deposited at BUTH.

He explained that the accident was reported to the FRSC at about 6:49pm on December 28, 2025, prompting immediate rescue operations by the FRSC in collaboration with other security and emergency agencies.

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To avert a possible fire outbreak, the area was cordoned off and traffic diverted, while security agencies prevented looting. Fortunately, Longsan said there was no spillage of petroleum products, significantly reducing the risk of explosion.

Agencies involved in the operation included the FRSC, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Federal Fire Service, NSCDC, Operation Rainbow, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Vehicle Inspection Officers, and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria.

Following the rescue operation, the petroleum product was safely transloaded, damaged vehicles were removed, and the road was fully cleared, restoring traffic flow by Monday morning.

Commending the coordinated response, FRSC Plateau Sector Commander, Olajide E. Mogaji, praised stakeholders and community members for their cooperation and reiterated that road safety is a shared responsibility.

He urged motorists to drive cautiously, especially during the festive season, and advised the public to report emergencies using the FRSC emergency number 122.

Two Killed, 16 Injured in Fuel Tanker Crash at Polo Roundabout in Jos

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