Senator Natasha heads to Appeal Court over N5m contempt fine - Newstrends
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Senator Natasha heads to Appeal Court over N5m contempt fine

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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Senator Natasha heads to Appeal Court over N5m contempt fine

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has filed an appeal against a Federal High Court judgment that found her in contempt and imposed a N5 million fine, describing the penalty as “excessive and punitive.”

In a Notice of Appeal dated July 9 and submitted by her legal counsel, Roland Otaru, SAN, the lawmaker is asking the Court of Appeal to overturn the contempt ruling delivered by Justice Binta Nyako and to nullify the financial sanction.

Justice Nyako had earlier convicted the senator for breaching a court directive that barred all parties from engaging the media on a matter pending before her. The court subsequently ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish public apologies in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days, in addition to the monetary fine.

In response, the senator argues that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to try her for contempt committed outside the courtroom—known legally as contempt ex facie curiae—and to impose criminal-like sanctions without following the prescribed procedures under the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act.

According to the appeal, which is based on six legal grounds, the trial court erred in finding the senator guilty of contempt and in awarding a punitive financial penalty.

One of the key arguments raised in the appeal is that Justice Nyako acted beyond her authority by entertaining a motion filed on May 7, 2025, by the Senate President, which alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan had violated the court’s April 4 order through a Facebook post.

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“The proper procedure for contempt committed ex facie curiae is to proceed against the alleged contemnor by the regular procedure of the criminal trial before another judge to ensure that before the contemnor is punished, the charges preferred against him are established beyond a reasonable doubt.“The trial court judge lacks the vires and indeed the jurisdiction to entertain an alleged contempt of its own order committed ex facie curiae,” the appellant submitted.

The senator also contends that her constitutional right to fair hearing was breached, citing procedural irregularities.

In another point of contention, the senator defended a satirical apology she posted on April 27, 2025, arguing it pertained to sexual harassment allegations and not the core subject matter of the court case.

“The question for determination and the reliefs sought in the appellant’s originating summons, when construed holistically, relate squarely to the propriety or otherwise of the referral of the appellant to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, as being ultra vires her constitutional right to fair hearing and the rules of the Senate, leading to her suspension during the pendency of suit.“The sexual harassment allegation was not before the trial court.“The liability as adjudged by the trial judge against the appellant with respect to a subject matter unrelated to the judicial proceedings before her ladyship was erroneous and, indeed, perverse,” she argued.

Further challenging the ruling, Akpoti-Uduaghan stated:
“The 3rd respondent’s application for contempt sought inter alia for an order to delete the said satirical apology and an apology to the Judiciary and the 3rd respondent simpliciter.“The 3rd respondent’s application filed on May 7, 2025 did not expressly seek for the payment of fine of N5 million or any amount whatsoever.“The trial judge expressly, in her decision, substituted the 3rd respondent’s reliefs sought with her own order.“The law is settled that the court and indeed the parties are bound by the reliefs sought on the face of the application under reference.“The imposition of fine by a trial court judge is in the realm of criminal sanctions.“The trial judge can only award cost to the successful party as indemnity in a civil proceedings and not to impose criminal sanction in the form of fines payable to the Federal Government of Nigeria.“The decision of the trial judge to substitute 3rd respondent’s reliefs sought with her own orders extraneous to the motion paper for amounts to descending into the arena of conflict which occasioned a miscarriage of justice,” the appellant submitted.

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She is therefore seeking from the appellate court, “An order setting aside the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, Coram: Binta Nyako J., delivered on July 4, 2025, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 on the following terms:
“An order of the Court of Appeal declaring that the trial court lacked the requisite jurisdiction to entertain an alleged contempt ex facie curiae involving the imposition of fine which is criminal in nature, against her own orders without compliance with the proper criminal procedure and provision contained in the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act.

“An Order of the Court of Appeal declaring that the trial court lacks the requisite vires and jurisdiction to impose the fine of N5 million which is a criminal sanction in civil proceedings without subjecting the appellant to the proper criminal process requiring proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

“An Order of the Court of Appeal declaring that the appellant’s satirical apology letter addressed to the 3rd respondent dated April 27, 2025 on her Facebook page did not amount to contempt of the orders of the court made on April 4, 2025.

Meanwhile, Justice Nyako in the main suit which was brought by the appellant challenging her suspension from the Senate for six months, had held that the action of the legislators was excessive and robs the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District of effective representations.
The judge accordingly called on the lawmakers to recall the suspended senator to enable her serve the people who voted her into office.

Senator Natasha heads to Appeal Court over N5m contempt fine

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Court Dissolves Marriage After Wife Accused of Nose Ring, Ankle Chain, TikTok Videos with Lover

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Court Dissolves Marriage After Wife Accused of Nose Ring, Ankle Chain, TikTok Videos with LoverCourt Dissolves Marriage After Wife Accused of Nose Ring, Ankle Chain, TikTok Videos with Lover

Court Dissolves Marriage After Wife Accused of Nose Ring, Ankle Chain, TikTok Videos with Lover

The Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has dissolved the marriage between Barakat and her husband, Ige, following a divorce petition filed by the woman over allegations of lack of love and care, physical assault, and domestic violence. The court, presided over by Mrs. O.E. Owoseni, also granted custody of the couple’s children to the husband after finding that the wife had been disowned by her own children due to what the court described as her questionable character and indecent lifestyle.

Barakat, in her petition, alleged that Ige never loved her and was always finding fault with everything she did. She further accused him of having no trust in her and constantly alleging that she was unfaithful, claiming that her husband accused her of having an affair with a man who allegedly picked her up from home every morning after Ige had left for work and dropped her off at night. The plaintiff described Ige as a brute, alleging that he frequently assaulted her physically over claims that she was dating another man, and she also alleged that Ige had damaged her reputation before their children, thereby poisoning their minds against her and turning them against her.

Barakat told the court that her children had, as of the time of the proceedings, disowned her as their mother, and she therefore prayed the court to dissolve the marriage and grant her custody of their children. In his response, Ige denied all the allegations against him, except the claim that there was a lack of love in the marriage, and said Barakat took him to court because he frequently complained about her mode of dressing, which he considered indecent. Ige explained that his wife wore a nose ring and ankle chain, which he said he found displeasing and a bad influence on their children, and he further accused her of living an extravagant lifestyle that she could not afford.

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According to Ige, he had established several businesses for Barakat at different times, but she allegedly mismanaged and ruined them, including a shop with goods, a POS machine, and a meaningful amount of capital that all went down the drain. The defendant further alleged that Barakat was promiscuous and was in a relationship with a particular man, claiming that she often lied that she was attending a vigil when, according to him, she would instead spend the night with her alleged lover. He also alleged that Barakat made TikTok videos with the man and took pictures wearing his cap, and he eventually consented to the dissolution of the marriage but opposed Barakat’s request for custody of their children, arguing that she would have a negative influence on them if they were placed in her custody.

Barakat, in her evidence before the court, stated that she and her husband started living together shortly after they met, and they did not have a customary marriage, neither did he pay her bride price. She told the court that her husband never loved her, neglected her, and denied her the necessary care and attention, adding that all he knew to do was complain about everything she did and constantly nag her. “My husband always accused me of engaging in extramarital affairs and would descend on me with heavy punches,” Barakat testified, adding that her husband dented her image before their children and poisoned their minds against her, leading to the children disowning her.

In his response, Ige said all the accusations his wife brought against him were false, stating that they were always at loggerheads because of her indecent and extravagant lifestyle. “Our children are not proud to have her as their mother, which was the reason they disowned her,” he told the court, adding that his wife displeases him with the way she dresses and is a bad example to their children, going about with a ring on her nose and chains around her ankles, and refusing to take corrections from him. Ige reiterated his claim that Barakat was promiscuous and in a relationship with a particular man who picked her up from home and dropped her off at night, alleging that she lied about attending vigils and instead spent the night with her lover.

Ige noted that even Barakat’s mother had counselled her on various occasions against her illicit behaviour, but all had been to no avail, and since she was hardly ever at home, he and her mother had taken up the responsibility of caring for the children, bathing them, cooking their food, and washing their clothes. He also stated that his wife was presently not working because she had ruined the businesses he established for her at different times, and he prayed that the marriage be dissolved while opposing the idea of his wife having custody of their children, saying she would influence them negatively.

After hearing from both parties, the court president, Mrs O.E. Owoseni, proceeded to give her ruling, stating that there was no customary marriage held between both parties, and no dowry was paid, meaning they were merely cohabiting. According to her, the plaintiff was a person of questionable character and would impact their children negatively, and she noted that Barakat was presently unemployed and therefore lacked the means to take care of their children’s needs. The court president granted the defendant custody of their children and ordered him to be responsible for their upkeep, while the plaintiff was granted reasonable access to their children.

Court Dissolves Marriage After Wife Accused of Nose Ring, Ankle Chain, TikTok Videos with Lover

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From One Goat to a Global Empire: Dino Melaye’s Inspiring Journey to Financial Freedom

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From One Goat to a Global Empire: Dino Melaye's Inspiring Journey to Financial Freedom

From One Goat to a Global Empire: Dino Melaye’s Inspiring Journey to Financial Freedom

Former Nigerian Senator Dino Melaye has shared the remarkable story of how a single goat he purchased at age 12 funded his education from secondary school through university—and ultimately launched him on a path to international investment success that spans three continents.

The former Kogi West senator made the revelation during an appearance on the KAA Truths podcast on Thursday, August 14, 2026, where he opened up about his journey from humble beginnings to acquiring a diversified portfolio of businesses, shares, and properties across Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Sweden .

Melaye’s story begins in childhood, long before his political career. At just 12 years old, he made a modest yet strategic purchase—a single goat. That goat reproduced, and Melaye sold its offspring to fund his education. What started as a small animal investment snowballed into a financial lifeline that carried him through secondary school and into higher education.

“At the age of 12, I bought a goat. And this goat would give birth, and I would sell the offspring of the goat to pay my school fees in secondary school. From the offspring of that goat, I paid for my WAEC, paid for my JAMB, I paid for my first year and second year in Ahmadu Bello University,” Melaye recounted .

The returns from that single goat covered not only his secondary school fees but also his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examination fees, his Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration, and his tuition for the first two years at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria—where he graduated with a degree in Geography in 2000 . He later obtained a law degree from Baze University in 2021 .

Melaye’s investment instincts did not stop with the goat. At age 18, he began investing internationally, purchasing shares in some of the world’s most prominent companies, including AppleMicrosoftUber, and Zoom . He recalled that his friends initially ridiculed his decision to buy Uber shares, but those same investments have since delivered substantial returns.

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“When I bought my Apple shares, I bought Microsoft too. When I bought shares in Uber, my friends were laughing at me: ‘Uber, what’s wrong with you?’ Today, I know what it is. When I also bought some shares in Zoom, people were laughing at me, then COVID came, and Zoom went up 400 per cent. So just ask God for direction,” Melaye said .

In addition to equities, Melaye disclosed that he purchased Eurobonds approximately 27 years ago when the euro was trading at about N60. He left the investment untouched and consistently reinvested the dividends, allowing the value to compound significantly over the decades .

The former senator also ventured into franchise businesses in the United States over 20 years ago. He began with a single outlet and expanded steadily over time .

“When I started investing in franchise businesses in America over 20 years ago, I started with one, one gave birth to two, two gave birth to three, three to four,” he said .

Melaye’s real estate journey is equally impressive. He started in Dubai by purchasing studio apartments and renting them out through Airbnb. From studios, he progressed to one-bedroom units, then two-bedroom apartments, and eventually purchased his own house on one of Dubai’s most expensive streets—a duplex in a prominent Downtown Dubai tower .

“When I started in Dubai, I began by buying studios and giving them out for Airbnb. From studios I bought a one-bedroom, from one bedroom I bought two bedrooms, from two bedrooms I bought my own house, in Downtown Dubai, on the most expensive street of Dubai, the first duplex in a tower,” he said .

Today, Melaye has transitioned from being a property owner to a property developer. “I don’t just have a portfolio of apartments in Dubai, I’m a developer. I’m building,” he stated .

Addressing critics who attribute his wealth solely to his time in political office, Melaye pointed out that he has been out of public office since 2019—seven years ago—yet his financial standing has not diminished .

“I’ve been out of public office since 2019. Seven years ago, my standards have not dropped. Definitely, you know there’s a second address,” he said .

He also claimed that he has never secured a government contract at either the federal or state level .

Melaye took time to distinguish between being rich and being wealthy, offering a perspective that resonates with aspiring investors .

“The difference between richness and wealth is that when you’re rich, you’re working for money, you go to work from 9 to 5, you have to attend meetings, you’re rich, but you’re working for money. But when you’re wealthy, money works for you,” Melaye explained .

He urged young Nigerians to develop the habit of investing, regardless of the amount available to them. “You don’t need trillions, millions, or hundreds of thousands to start investing — however small, start it,” he said .

Melaye attributed his financial journey to having a clear vision, remaining committed to it, and believing in divine favour. “I came from a very lowly background, but God, in his infinite mercy, out of his grace, out of divine favour, I am where I am today. And I should not be ashamed of it,” he reflected .

He also advised Nigerians to embrace discipline, hard work, tenacity, and sound decision-making. “Just be sincere with yourself. Believe in the supremacy of God over the universe. Be hardworking, be tenacious, make the right decisions, and have a second address,” he counselled .

Melaye, who served in the Senate from 2015 to 2019 representing Kogi West Senatorial District, has had a political career marked by both legislative achievements and controversies . His journey from a single goat to a global investment portfolio serves as a powerful testament to the virtues of early financial planningconsistent reinvestmentstrategic risk-taking, and diversified asset allocation—lessons he hopes will inspire young Nigerians seeking financial independence.

From One Goat to a Global Empire: Dino Melaye’s Inspiring Journey to Financial Freedom

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19-Year-Old Housewife Arrested for Allegedly Poisoning Husband 40 Days After Wedding

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19-Year-Old Housewife Arrested for Allegedly Poisoning Husband 40 Days After Wedding

19-Year-Old Housewife Arrested for Allegedly Poisoning Husband 40 Days After Wedding in Bauchi

Bauchi State Police have taken a 19-year-old woman into custody following allegations that she poisoned her husband’s meal less than six weeks into their marriage, in a case that has stunned the local community. Aisha Musa, a newlywed residing in Gwamma Village, Bauchi Local Government Area, was arrested on August 12, 2026, after she allegedly mixed a toxic substance into her husband’s food—barely 40 days after their wedding ceremony.

According to police reports, the incident unfolded at approximately 3:15 PM when Musa reportedly introduced the poison into the meal she had prepared for her spouse. The husband, whose identity has been withheld for privacy reasons, consumed the food and subsequently fell seriously ill. He was immediately rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, where medical staff confirmed he is now in stable condition and responding to treatment.

The alarm was raised by an anonymous female caller from the Wunti Dada area of Bauchi, who contacted the police around 7:40 PM on the same day. Officers from the ‘C’ Division, Tafawa Balewa Estate, swiftly mobilized to the scene, evacuated the victim, and arrested the suspect without incident.

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During initial interrogation, Musa allegedly confessed to the crime, admitting that she had intentionally mixed the poisonous agent into her husband’s meal. Investigators have since recovered key pieces of evidence, including an empty bottle believed to have contained the poison and remnants of the contaminated food, both of which have been registered as official exhibits.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a more comprehensive probe into the circumstances and motive behind the alleged act. The police have assured the public that the suspect will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.

While the motive remains unclear, the case has drawn significant attention to domestic incidents involving young brides and has reignited conversations about gender-based violence, mental health support, and early marriage in the region. Community leaders have called for a fair and thorough investigation, urging both families to allow the legal process to take its course.

The police continue to appeal to the public for any additional information that may aid the investigation, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring justice for all parties involved.

19-Year-Old Housewife Arrested for Allegedly Poisoning Husband 40 Days After Wedding

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