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Court lifts order stopping Senate probe on Natasha Akpoti

Published

4 weeks ago

March 20, 2025

Trends Admin

Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Court lifts order stopping Senate probe on Natasha Akpoti

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has vacated an earlier order that restrained the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from investigating Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The initial restraining order, issued on March 4, 2025, was set aside on Wednesday, with the judge ruling that events within the Senate had overtaken it.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan came under Senate scrutiny following a heated exchange with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seat reallocation during a plenary session on February 20, 2025. Her actions were deemed disorderly, leading to her referral to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for alleged misconduct.

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Rather than appear before the committee, the senator sought judicial intervention to halt the probe. However, despite the court’s initial ex parte order, the Senate proceeded with its investigation, concluding the process and presenting its report on the Senate floor on March 6, 2025.

Based on the committee’s findings, the Senate collectively voted to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In response, the second respondent challenged the ex parte order, arguing that it had effectively determined the substantive issue prematurely.

After reviewing the arguments, Justice Egwuatu ruled to set aside the restraining order, affirming the Senate’s authority to conduct its legislative duties.

Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to March 25, 2025, for the hearing of all pending preliminary objections, applications, and the plaintiff’s request for a mandatory injunction.

Court lifts order stopping Senate probe on Natasha Akpoti

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Military replaces theatre commander in Borno over renewed terrorist attacks

Published

5 minutes ago

April 18, 2025

Trends Admin

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa

Military replaces theatre commander in Borno over renewed terrorist attacks

Authorities of the Nigerian military have commenced tactical changes in some of its operations to contain the renewed attacks in Plateau, Borno and other states.

With the changes, which began yesterday with the Nigerian army, the force that commands ground troops against external aggression, are expected to be extended to the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Navy in a few days.

Sources in the military confided in our correspondent that top officers had been redeployed to strengthen ongoing operations.

The Theatre Commander for North East Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State and the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, were among the senior officers redeployed.

It was gathered that Major General A.E. Abubakar is now the new Theatre Commander for OPHK; while Major-General A.K Ibrahim, is the new Commandant for Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

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A source said the new commander and other tactical and strategic commanders redeployed would assume duties after the Easter celebration.

The Theatre Commander, Major-General Shuaibu Waidi, took over the leadership of the theatre on January 30, 2024 from Major-General Gold Chibuisi to sustain the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in the region.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum had recently said nothing much had changed in terms of the activities of the insurgents.

Zulum, had last Tuesday while heading an expanded Security Council meeting held at the council chambers, Government House, Maiduguri, said the state was at risk of returning to turmoil.

“Many military locations were dislodged, especially in Wulgo, Sabongari, Wajirko among others. It seems we are losing ground and this is a very important thing that we need to discuss. Peace has gradually returned to Borno within the last 3 years, but we are witnessing sporadic attacks in recent times,” Zulum had said.

Other officers redeployed are: Major-General B.I. Alaya, Director-General, DICON; Major-General M.K Gara and Commander, Operation WHIRL STROKE, K.O. Ukandu, among others.

Military replaces theatre commander in Borno over renewed terrorist attacks

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Police rescue 2 pastors abducted from Lokoja mountain

Published

35 minutes ago

April 18, 2025

Trends Admin

Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP William Ovye Aya

Police rescue 2 pastors abducted from Lokoja mountain

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of two victims of last Friday’s attack on worshippers on the Akpamoba-Igbola prayer mountain in Agbaja area of Lokoja Local Government Area.

The command’s spokesman, ASP William Aya, disclosed this during a chat with our correspondent in Lokoja.

He identified the rescued victims as pastors Adura Kayode and Kingsley Ebong of the City of Grace Prophetic Liberation Church.

He said the rescued pastors had been reunited with their families, adding that security operatives are still combing the forest in the area to rescue more of the abducted worshippers.

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Meanwhile, the chairman of Lokoja Local Government Council, Comrade Abdullahi Adamu, has charged security operatives to sustain the search, rid the forest of all criminal elements and restore sanity.

The chairman, in a statementby his special adviser, Yusuf Bala, called on residents of the area to remain calm as security personnel are on the trail of the criminals.

The worshippers were attacked by some armed men, suspected to be kidnappers during a night vigil last Friday at Akpamoba-Igbola Mountain in Agbaja area. They whisked an unspecified number of them into the bush.

The rescue of the two pastors has brought the number of freed victims to three, including a woman, Mary Adams Gur,who regained her freedom on the night of the incident when men of the state vigilante services stormed the forest.

Police rescue 2 pastors abducted from Lokoja mountain

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FG secures release of 6 women arrested for human trafficking in Cape Verde

Published

16 hours ago

April 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar

FG secures release of 6 women arrested for human trafficking in Cape Verde

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has successfully secured the release of six Nigerian women who were wrongfully detained in Cape Verde over baseless trafficking accusations.

Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the spokesperson of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, revealed via a statement on Wednesday, April 16 that the Nigerian Mission in Guinea Bissau worked closely with the Cape Verdean authorities to ensure the women’s release.

She noted that the women had travelled to Cape Verde for vacation but were unfortunately arrested on unfounded human trafficking charges, which were eventually proven to be false.

Ebienfa mentioned that the minister expressed his satisfaction with the successful resolution of the matter and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of Nigerians abroad.

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The statement read, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to happily inform you that the Nigerian ladies who were detained in Cape Verde have all been released and have left the country, too.

“The Ministry engaged Cape Verde authorities via our Mission in Guinea Bissau to secure their release.

“The six ladies travelled to Cape Verde for a holiday and were unfortunately detained on allegations of trafficking, which turned out to be false.”