News
Defamation: Natasha will appear in court on Tuesday says Lead Counsel, Idahosa
West Idahosa (SAN), the lead counsel to suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has confirmed that she will appear in court on Tuesday, as summoned.
However, he expressed uncertainty about whether the Federal Government planned to arraign her on Tuesday.
He said that whatever the plans of the Federal Government, Akpoti-Uduaghan, as a law-abiding citizen, would comply with the court’s directives.
The Federal Government, through the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, filed criminal charges against Akpoti-Uduaghan, alleging that she made defamatory statements during a live television broadcast and a private telephone conversation.
These statements reportedly targeted the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
According to the charge, filed on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court and marked CR/297/25, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of making a statement during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels TV on April 3, 2025, where she alleged that Akpabio and Bello discussed plans to assassinate her.
“It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night— to eliminate me… he then emphasised that I should be killed in Kogi,” the charge quotes her as saying.
Additionally, the government accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of making defamatory remarks in a telephone conversation on March 27, 2025.
In the conversation with a woman named Dr Sandra Duru, Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly claimed that Akpabio was linked to organ harvesting involving the late Iniubong Umoren, purportedly for the benefit of his ailing wife.
Akpabio, Bello, and four others have been listed as key witnesses in the trial.
Idahosa also reiterated the readiness of the legal team to defend Akpoti-Uduaghan in court.
He said, “If the case is called tomorrow, we will respond accordingly with our client.
“The issue of protest is irrelevant to us — we are lawyers, and our focus is on defending charges we believe can be contested. Protests are the domain of civil societies and others in that terrain,” Idahosa said.
He further stated, “Our client is a law-abiding citizen. Why wouldn’t she be there? It’s a summons we have undertaken. Only disrespectful institutions that disregard court orders would fail to appear, and she is not in that category.
”When asked about the possibility of arraignment, Idahosa noted, “We don’t know.
We saw a notice of amended charges. We don’t know what they are trying to do.
They’ve amended the charges once and could do so again—it’s their decision.”
News
BREAKING: Uche Nnaji Resigns as Tinubu’s Minister
In a letter thanking President Bola Tinubu for having allowed him to serve Nigeria, Nnaji said that he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents, citing some allegations against him.
Geoffrey Uche Nnaji resigned today as the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
In a letter thanking President Bola Tinubu for having allowed him to serve Nigeria, Nnaji said that he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents, citing some allegations against him.
In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dated October 7, 2025 ,President Tinubu has accepted Nnaji ‘s resignation , thanks him for his service to the nation and wished him well in future endeavors.
President Tinubu appointed Nnaji in August 2023.
News
President Tinubu Decorates INEC’s Mahmood Yakubu with “CON” National Honour
Yakubu was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the commission for an initial term of five years. The appointment, which was renewed in 2020, has now expired due to the passage of time.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday conferred the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on Prof Mahmood Yakubu, the outgoing Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying that the award was in recognition of Yakubu’s dedicated service to the nation.
Yakubu was first appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the commission for an initial term of five years. The appointment, which was renewed in 2020, has now expired due to the passage of time.
President Tinubu thanked Professor Yakubu for his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy, particularly through the organisation of free and fair elections throughout his two-term tenure.
Consequent upon this, President Tinubu also directed that Professor Yakubu should hand over to the most senior national commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will direct the affairs of the commission until the completion of the process to appoint a successor.
In the letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the nation as chairman of the commission since 2015.
News
OpenAI’s Global Actors to Grace 2025 UNILAG International Week
Director of International Relations, Professor Ismail Ibraheem, emphasised the importance of the event in shaping Africa’s voice in the global tech space, stating that the week serves as a platform for practical collaborations between academia, industry, and government.
Prominent figures, including Emmanuel Lubanzadio from OpenAI, Yvonne Ike of Bank of America, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications Dr. Bosun Tijani, and entrepreneur Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, are set to participate in the 2025 University of Lagos (UNILAG) International Week.
The event, themed “Equitable Partnerships and the Future of AI in Africa,” will take place from October 13 to 17, 2025, at UNILAG’s Akoka campus.
The week-long program will bring together government officials, global partners, academics, and tech innovators to discuss artificial intelligence and collaboration.
Keynote speakers will include Dr. Tijani, Mr. Lubanzadio, and Ms. Ike, while sessions on digital governance will feature Nigeria’s BPP boss, Dr. Adedokun.
Young innovators like Adeleke Eniola, who developed an AI-powered malaria diagnostic tool, will also be highlighted.
Plenary sessions will cover topics such as ethical AI, data governance, and educational innovation, aiming for actionable outcomes like policy recommendations and investment linkages.
Director of International Relations, Professor Ismail Ibraheem, emphasised the importance of the event in shaping Africa’s voice in the global tech space, stating that the week serves as a platform for practical collaborations between academia, industry, and government.
UNILAG continues to strengthen its international partnerships for research and skills development, reinforcing its role in global engagement.
BREAKING: Uche Nnaji Resigns as Tinubu’s Minister
President Tinubu Decorates INEC’s Mahmood Yakubu with “CON” National Honour
OpenAI’s Global Actors to Grace 2025 UNILAG International Week
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