Latest news with #GodswillAkpabio
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan plead not guilty to defaming Akpabio, Bello as court grant her N50 million bail
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan wey be di lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District for di National Assembly don plead not guilty to di three-count charge of defamation, wey di office of di Attorney General of di Federation sama her. Di lawmaker bin appear bifor Justice Chizoba Orji of di Federal Capital Territory High Court for di Maitama area of Abuja on Thursday. Dis three-count charge accuse Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan of making false claims say di President of di Nigeria Senate, Godswill Akpabio, bin make plans wit di former Govnor of Kogi State, Yahyah Bello, to kill her. Di AGF say Akpoti-Uduaghan know say di claims na false but she make am to discredit Akpabio and Bello, and to tarnish dia image. As di matter come up for court, di court registrar read out di charges to di lawmaker and she plead not guilty to each of dem. Afta dat, counsel to di Federal Goment, David Kaswe, ask di court to remand di defendant in prison pending wen di trial go commence. Kaswe claim say im reason be say dem wey be di prosecution bin find am very difficult bifor dem fit serve di defendant wit di charges. However, di defence counsel Roland Otaru, ask di trial judge to use her discretion and grant im client bail based on di fact say she no be flight risk, she no go fit interfere wit police investigation or wit di witnesses for di case, and di law presume her innocent until proven guilty. Afta listening to di arguments, Justice Orji agree wit di defence counsel and say she go grant di defendant bail in di sum of 50 million naira and one surety. Di surety must to get landed property within di jurisdiction of di court, and e must be a pesin of integrity. She den adjourn di matter to September 23, 2025 for di trial to start. Some popular rights activists bin follow Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan come court to show am solidarity. Dem include former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili, Aisha Yesufu and others. Emmanuel Uduaghan, di husband of di embattled lawmaker also follow her come court on Thursday. BBC Pidgin bin don report say dis na di fourth court case wey involve Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan since late March dis year wen she get public quarrel against di Senate President Dis particular three-count charge na majorly about libel, two counts against Akpabio and one count against Yahaya Bello. According to di charges, Akpoti-Uduaghan allege for interview say Akpabio and Yahaya Bello bin meet for a hotel on March 14, 2025, wia dem emphasis say dem go kill her, but e no go be for Abuja rather e go be for her state Kogi. "Dat na one of di reason why I bin no go home on time. I bin delay to go home bicos I get to put some measures on ground," di charge sheet quote Akpoti-Uduaghan. Also, di senator allege, according to di charge sheet, say Akpabio and Yahaya Bello bin hold three discussions day. "Di first one na my recall, di second one na to eliminate me, and di third one na to put somebody wey go take di ticket from me if I wan contest for 2027." According to di AGF, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan know or she get reason to believe say "dis imputations go harm di reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of di 10th senate of di Federal Republic of Nigeria", and di reputation of Yahaya Adoza Bello, former Govnor of Kogi State. Di third allegation for di charge sheet na during a two-way phone interview wey Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly do with one Sandra Duru for Abuja, wia di senator bin claim say Akpabio bin use di internal organs of one girl wey her name na Umoren Iniubong, for im wife who bin dey sick for three years. Akpabio, Bello, and one oda Senator - Asuquo Ekpenyong - na some of di witnesses wey di AGF say dem go call for di matter.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
All di court cases wey Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan dey face
Justice Idris Kutigi of di Federal High Court Abuja don order di Senate President of Nigeria, Godswill Akpabio to appear bifor am, sake of one defamation case wey Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan bin file against am. Dis na just one out of di plenty court cases wey involve Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, di suspended lawmaker wey dey represent Kogi Central Senatorial District for di National Assembly. According to tori by local media, Justice Kutigi bin grant di lawyer of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, Victor Giwa, permision to serve Akpabio wit di court proceedings thru substituted means, since di senate president bin no show face for court on 7 May, 2025 wey di matter bin suppose start. Di Judge order Akpabio to show face for di court on Monday, 9 June, 2025. Though e neva dey clear weda dis date go get head since di Nigeria goment don declare am as public holiday for di muslim celebration of Eid-El-Kabir. Since late February dis year wen di crisis start between di female lawmaker and di senate president Akpabio, na so court cases dey pile up betwin di two. Some of dem na Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan start am, di odas na either di Nigeria goment or Akpabio family start am. Remember say Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan dey accuse Akpabio of sexual harrasment, wey she claim say e happen several times including for Akpabio house and for di senate premises. However, Akpabio don deny di allegations. Here na listicle of dis court cases and wetin be di issues: 350 billion naira suit by Mrs Akpabio Shortly afta Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accuse Akpabio of sexual harassment during one TV interview, Mrs Ekaette Akpabio, wife of di senate president, call a press conference, wia she tok say she don sue Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for defamation against her husband. Akpabio wife say she file two court cases - marked CV/814/25 and CV/816/25 - for di federal high court Abuja, demanding damages of N250 billion and N100 billion respectively. She tok say di allegations against her husband don cause her and her children "emotional and psychological abuse", and e don make her family to dey live for constant fear of threat to dia lives. She want make di court restrain Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan from making defamatory statements against di Akpabio family, and for her to withdraw di allegations and tender "unconditional apology to di senate president" wey go dey published for two national newspapers. 100 billion naira suit by Akpoti-Uduaghan Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan bin also file court case against Godswill Akpabio and imegislative aide, Mfon Patrick, wia she allege say di aide bin post one article on Facebook wey wan damage her reputation. Di Kogi lawmaker ask di court to order di defendants to pay her N100 billion for damages and anoda N300 million in litigation costs. Inside di suit, marked CV/737/25, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan say di post by Mfon Patrick dey "defamatory, provocative, and damaging to her reputation". Oga Patrick bin make dis post afta di wahala wey happen for di senate chambers on 21 February, 2025, wia Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan bin para and shout for di senate president afta dem change her sitting position. Di incident wey show for national TV bin see di female lawmaker telling Akpabio say "I am not afraid of you", "I don take a lot from you. I bin no wan go public, but if you want I go let Nigerians know how you don discriminate against me, how you dey malign me..." Days later, oga Patrick den post di article on Facebook wit di title: "She di Local Content Committee of di Senate be Natasha Birthright?" Di legislative aide say Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan dey para bicos di Senate President bin remove her as di chairman of dat senate committee. But di female lawmaker vex for di part wia Patrick say she no sabi anything about being a legislator except to dey "pancake her face and dey wear transparent outfits to di chambers." Dis remarks, she tok, "dey false and na to ridicule her, damage her credibility, and expose her to public contempt". Natasha vs Senate, Akpabio, Senate committee E also get anoda court case wey Natasha file to challenge her six-month suspension from di senate, afta a report by di senate comittee on etichs, privileges, and public petitions. Di committee bin recommend di suspension afta Natasha fail to appear bifor dem for investigation into her conduct for di senate chambers on February 21. Natasha hersef explain say she no attend dat investigation sake of say court bin don order di committee to postpone di hearing pending di determination of di matter bifor di court. But di committee members say dem no dey bound by any court order since dem dey do dia work as independent arm of goment. Dis matter on weda Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan suspension dey valid or not, dey bifor Justice Binta Nyako of di federal high court Abuja, and e dey expected say sho go deliver di judgement dis July. AGF vs Natasha Most recently, di office of di Attorney General of di Federation file anoda court case for di Federal Capital Territory High Court, sake of allegations of defamation against di senate president Godswill Akpabio and di former guvnor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. For di three-count charges wey di goment bring against di female lawmaker, dem say Mrs Akpoti-Uduahan bin claim say Akpabio and Bello bin get plans to kill her, and say dis allegation na lie. According to di AGF, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan know or she suppose know say "dis imputations go harm di reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of di 10th senate of di Federal Republic of Nigeria, and di reputation of Yahaya Adoza Bello, former guvnor of Kogi State". Di witnesses wey di FG say dem go call for dis matter include Akpabio, Yahaya Bello and one oda senator Asuquo Ekpenyong plus three oda pipo. Dis matter suppose start on Tuesday, 3 June, 2025, but e no come go ahead bicos of strike wey di Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (Jusun) bin start di previous day. E never dey clear wen di new date go be.
Zawya
28-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria: Rivers administrator to defend 2025 budget before joint NASS committee — Senate
The Senate on Tuesday revealed that the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and other key functionaries would defend the state's 2025 budget before the Joint National Assembly Ad-hoc Committee to Oversee Emergency Rule in Rivers State. A statement from the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Senate Leader was silent on the actual date. But the upper chamber assured Nigerians that it was determined to ensure that the people of Rivers State 'are not shortchanged due to the declaration of emergency rule by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18.' The Leader of the Senate/Chairman, Senate Ad-hoc Committee to Oversee Emergency Rule in Rivers State, made the disclosure at the inaugural meeting of the committee held in the New Senate Wing, National Assembly Complex, Abuja on Tuesday. Recall that after President Tinubu declared the emergency rule in Rivers State, President of the Senate, President Godswill Akpabio had subsequently constituted an 18-member Committee on Emergency Rule under the chairmanship of Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. At the inaugural meeting on Tuesday, Bamidele revealed that both chambers of the National Assembly had agreed to hold a joint session to oversight the 2025 budget of the state, which the sole administrator laid before the parliament last week through President Tinubu. The Senator representing Ekiti Central in the Senate, assured Nigerians that the National Assembly 'is determined to work closely with members of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee to Oversee Emergency Rule in Rivers State to ensure financial propriety and good governance. 'It is our understanding with our colleagues in the House of Representatives that the sole administrator and other relevant functionaries of the state will all appear the joint ad-hoc committee of both chambers of the National Assembly when it is time for them to defend the 2025 the budget at the National Assembly,' Bamidele said with assurance to provide effective oversight in the state. He, further, noted that the inaugural meeting 'is a necessary ritual to enable the committee carry out its assignment and mandate. The committee will guarantee that the democratic rule will continue to function in Rivers State despite the declaration of emergency rule. 'The Senate is committed to the rule of law as well as the tenets of democracy. I am also confident in the pedigree of the members of this ad-hoc committee to deliver on the role of oversighting the activities of the sole administrator of Rivers State,' the chairman of the ad-hoc committee further said. Bamidele, therefore, challenged all members of the committee to be diligent and thorough in providing oversight functions for the Government of Rivers State and ensuring that the citizens of Rivers State are not shortchanged due to the declaration of emergency rule He noted that the 2025 budget of the Rivers State Government 'has been presented to the National Assembly by the Sole Administrator through the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The budget is being referred to our committee. 'The committee has just finalised on its workplan as well as the timetable that will ensure proper budget defence by the sole administrator of Rivers State. The budget defence will involve other state officials of the state, especially the Accountant-General of Rivers State, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and relevant officials in charge of the economy of the state 'As much as possible, the National Assembly will ensure propriety in the discharge of our oversight functions. We will also ensure that governance does not suffer in Rivers State during the period of emergency rule,' Bamidele further assured Nigerians. Apart from the Senate Leader who presided at the inaugural meeting, others who attended were Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Munguno; Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Peter Nwebonyi; Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Adamu Aliero; Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa; Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru and Chairperson, Senate Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Senator Oluranti Adebule.
Business Insider
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
From celebration to concern, Nigeria's debt may rise despite repaying the IMF
The tone of Nigeria's debt conversation in less than a month has pivoted from jubilant to concerned, owing to the intent of President Bola Tinubu to borrow more money, despite recently clearing its IMF debts. President Bola Tinubu proposes additional borrowing to finance key sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, and healthcare. The new loan could potentially increase Nigeria's total public debt from N144.67 trillion to over N182.91 trillion by 2026. Nigeria recently repaid a $3.4 billion obligation to the IMF and cleared a N30 trillion Ways and Means debt. The president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, recently reached out to the country's National Assembly to approve a new round of borrowing composed of $21.54 billion, €2.19 billion, and ¥15 billion which he noted is aimed at supporting key sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, water resources, security, and public finance reforms. This comes a few weeks after the country settled its financial obligations of $3.4 billion to the International Monetary Fund. Additionally, the administration had announced the clearance of the country's Ways and Means debt, totalling over N30 trillion, back in October 2024. However, during the recent plenary, on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter that contained the president's request. A description of the financial breakdown was also provided in the letter, but its contents were kept confidential. According to a report by The Punch, the newly proposed loan would increase Nigeria's current debt stock by approximately N38.24 trillion at the current official exchange rate of N1,583.74/$1, potentially causing Nigeria's total public debt to rise from N144.67 trillion at the end of 2024 to over N182.91 trillion by 2026. For more context, Nigeria's external debt would rise from $45.78 billion to approximately $69.92 billion, an extra $24.14 billion, or a 52.7% increase, if the National Assembly approves the president's plan. This will raise the external debt component of Nigeria's overall national debt to more than N108 trillion in the country's local currency. The scheme, which is part of the 2023 Presidential Executive Order on Foreign Currency-Denominated Financial Instruments, aims to improve foreign currency reserves, grow the domestic financial sector, draw in local dollar investments, and aid in exchange rate stabilization. Nigeria's World Bank loan under President Bola Tinubu Since President Bola Tinubu's administration took over, the World Bank has authorized approximately 11 loan projects for Nigeria worth $7.45 billion in less than two years. According to data from the Debt Management Office, the World Bank held $17.32 billion of Nigeria's external debt as of the third quarter of 2024. Nigeria's debt to the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) is $16.5 billion as of FY2024, making it Africa's largest debtor and the world's third-highest, according to the Bank's financial statements.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Wetin be di charges goment file against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Di office of di Attorney General of di Federation don sama anoda lawsuit on top Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, di female lawmaker wey dey represent Kogi Central Senatorial District for di Nigeria Senate. Dis new lawsuit na sake of allegations wey Mrs Akpoti Uduaghan bin make for one TV interview on April 3, 2025, wia she tok say di Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former guvnor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello, bin dey plan to kpai her. According to di charge sheet wey our tori pesin see, di allegation say Akpoti-Uduaghan bin make comments wey she know or she suppose know say di comments go harm somebody reputation . Di offences dey contrary to section 391 of di penal code laws of di federation and also punishable under section 392 of di same law. Charges against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Di three-count charges na majorly about libel, two counts against Akpabio and one count against Yahaya Bello. According to di charges, Akpoti-Uduaghan allege for di interview say Akpabio and Yahaya Bello bin meet for a hotel on March 14, 2025, wia dem emphasis say dem go kill her, but e no go be for Abuja rather e go be for her state Kogi. "Dat na one of di reason why I bin no go home on time. I bin delay to go home bicos I gatz put some measures on ground," di charge sheet quote Akpoti-Uduaghan. Also, di senator allege, according to di charge sheet, say Akpabio and Yahaya Bello bin hold three discussions day day. "Di first one na my recall, di second one na to eliminate me, and di third one na to put somebody wey go take di ticket from me if I wan contest for 2027." According to di AGF, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan know or she get reason to believe say "dis imputations go harm di reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of di 10th senate of di Federal Republic of Nigeria", and di reputation of Yahaya Adoza Bello, former guvnor of Kogi State. Di third allegation for di charge sheet na during a two-way phone interview wey Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly do with one Sandra Duru for Abuja, wia di senator bin claim say Akpabio bin use di internal organs of one girl wey her name na Umoren Iniubong, for im wife who bin dey sick for three years. Akpabio, Yahaya Bello follow for witnesses Our tori pesin also see a list wey contain a total of six witnesses wey di Nigeria goment say dem go call wen di trial start. Di witnesses list include: Di last two witnesses na officers from di Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit of di Nigeria Police Force, and na dem be di pipo wey investigate di allegation. Wen di matter go start According to di charge sheet, di office of di AGF file di matter on May 15, 2025, but di case neva dey assigned to any judge. So no exact date don dey wen di trial go start. But remember say Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan don already file one case bifor Justice Binta Nyako of di federal high court, sake of her suspension from di senate for six months. Di matter na against di senate president Akpabio, di Nigeria senate, di senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions, and chairman of di committee Neda Imasuen. Justice Nyako don fix June 27, 2025 to deliver judgment for di case. Brief background Dis gbas gbos betwin Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio start for early March dis year afta dem change di sitting arrangement for some lawmakers for di senate chambers. Mrs Akpoti-Uduagha bin vex and para for Uduaghan wen she find out say dem change her own sitting position, and she no dey happy wit di new place wia dem assign to her. But senators bin explain say changing of sitting positions na normal tin wey di senate president get power to do from time to time, and e no need to inform pesin or ask pesin opinion bifor e go reassign di pesin position. Also say, according to di senate standing rule, pesin must to stay for di seat wey dem assign to am bifor di pesin go dey recognised to tok or contribute during plenary. Na dis rules dem allege say Akpoti-Uduaghan bin break, and na why di senate punish her wit six months suspension. However, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan later start to dey accuse Akpabio of sexual harassment, saying na bicos she refuse di advances of di senate president na why im dey persecute her. Akpabio don deny di allegation.
