The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has arrived at the Senate for the hearing on the ₦1.48 trillion budget of the state.

According to reports, Ibas was accompanied by other key officials, including members of the economic team to appear before Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State.

The Senate had weeks ago reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the people of Rivers State were not shortchanged following the declaration of emergency rule by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025.

Details later…

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.