The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, has granted bail to suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in the sum of ₦50 million.

Delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice Chizoba Orji dismissed the Federal Government’s request to have the senator remanded in prison custody pending the outcome of her trial. Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing a three-count criminal charge.

Justice Orji stated that the court found no justification to deny bail, noting that the defendant had shown a willingness to stand trial.

In addition to the bail sum, the court ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide one surety—someone of integrity who owns a landed property within Abuja.

The decision was anchored on Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Sections 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The court has fixed September 23 for the commencement of trial.

Senator Natasha is being arraigned on a three-count charge of alleged imputation intended to cause harm to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Nigeria’s Former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, GCON, has debunked rumours of his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

A press statement signed by Umar Sani, the former media adviser to the former Vice President, said the claim is entirely false and without any basis.

The statement reads:

My attention has been drawn to a widely circulated story alleging that His Excellency, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, GCON, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Following numerous calls and inquiries, I have taken the liberty on the authority of His Excellency’s family to issue this formal rebuttal. I categorically state that the story is a fabrication, laced with mischief and aimed at misleading the public.

The photograph supporting this falsehood, showing His Excellency with the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, is not recent.

It was taken years ago during a condolence visit by the Governor to His Excellency’s residence in Abuja, following the demise of his brother, the late Sani Sambo. The image is now being deliberately misrepresented to fit a contrived narrative.

Furthermore, His Excellency is scheduled to attend the commissioning of a 300-bed hospital in Kaduna on Thursday, 19th June 2025.

This project, which he initiated during his time in office, stands as a testament to his enduring commitment to public service and the development of Kaduna State.

His invitation to witness the completion of this legacy project, and possibly offer a few remarks, must not be misconstrued as a political endorsement or as confirmation of any partisan shift.

For the avoidance of doubt, His Excellency, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo remains a loyal and committed member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He has no intention of joining any other political party.

The defection story is purely the figment of the imagination of its authors calculated to sow confusion and achieve cheap political mileage.

We urge the public and the media to disregard this misinformation and treat it with the contempt it deserves, the statement reads.

Kogi State Government workers and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s re-election project.

Speaking at a press conference in Lokoja, Hon. Bode Adeyemi, Chairman of the Combined State Government Appointees Forum, said the endorsement was necessary given the exceptional performance of the President in the last two years.

According to Adeyemi, “The current presidency has drawn Nigeria out of the negative economic, security, infrastructure, education, and healthcare rating and stabilised the system into one that is forward-looking and promising.”

He added that the policy direction of the government has brought Nigeria back from the woods and put it on the path of unstoppable progress towards shared prosperity for all Nigerians.

The Kogi officials praised Tinubu for his achievements, including the removal of subsidies on petroleum products, allocation of huge resources to sub-national governments, and various infrastructure development projects.

They also commended Governor Ododo’s humane and egalitarian leadership, which has turned around the well-being of the people and made Kogi one of the fastest-growing states.

The appointees vowed to use their numbers, strategic positions, and political weight to “deliver 239,000 votes to President Tinubu and all the 2027 candidates of the party in the state”.

They announced the creation of the “Kogi Continuity Mandate” as the political organisation under which they will mobilise electorates for the actualisation of the Tinubu-Ododo continuity mandate.

Governor Ododo was adopted as the Grand Patron of the new organisation, while the Deputy Governor, Joel Salifu, was named Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

The group also constituted various committees, including a political committee, pet projects committee, and media committee, to drive their mobilisation efforts.

The combined forum of appointees, comprising the Forum of Commissioners, Forum of Special Advisers, Forum of Senior Special Assistants, Forum of Local Government Special Assistants, and Forum of Ward Special Assistants, made a formal endorsement and declaration of support for President Tinubu and Governor Ododo’s continuity in office.

They pledged to “mobilise 239,000 traceable votes for the party in 2027”.