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
Kanu Declines to Open Defence, Insists no Case Against him
………..Judge Advises Kanu to Consult Expert on Criminal Law
The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has declined to open his defence in his ongoing trial, insisting that the Federal Government has no valid charges against him.
At Monday’s proceedings before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Kanu informed the court that, after finally receiving and reviewing his case file, he found no basis for the charges brought against him. He therefore requested one week to file a written address instead of calling witnesses as earlier planned.
However, lead prosecutor Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, strongly objected to the request, noting that the court had already granted the defendant six days to conclude his defence—two of which had elapsed. Awomolo argued that Kanu was fully aware of the charges since his plea was taken and witnesses were cross-examined, stressing that the matter could not be allowed to drag indefinitely.
The prosecution urged the court to deem Kanu’s refusal to open his defence as a conclusion of the case and to proceed to judgment.
Justice Omotosho cautioned Kanu about the risks of representing himself, describing him as a “layman” in legal practice and advising him to seek counsel from someone versed in criminal law. The court also reminded him that the issue of his extraordinary rendition from Kenya had already been resolved and was no longer relevant to the current trial.
In the interest of justice, Justice Omotosho granted Kanu’s request and adjourned the case until Tuesday, November 4, for either the opening of his defence or the adoption of his written address on his claim that the Federal Government has no case to answer.
News
BREAKING: Omoyele Sowore Regains Freedom After Controversial Detention
………Vows to Continue Legal and Democratic Struggle
In a significant turn of events, pro-democracy activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has regained his freedom from prison custody today, October 27, 2025, following his controversial detention by police officers last Friday.
Sowore’s arrest came under contentious circumstances — despite being granted bail by a competent court, he was allegedly forcibly removed from the court premises and transferred to prison custody. The incident, which sparked nationwide outrage, was widely condemned by human rights organizations, civil society groups, and media practitioners as a blatant violation of due process and an affront to judicial authority.
In a statement released shortly after his release, Sowore’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, Esq., described the development as a victory for justice and constitutional order. “The court spoke. The Constitution spoke. Today, freedom has spoken!” he said. Temokun praised Nigerians who stood in solidarity throughout the ordeal, emphasizing that the widespread public pressure and persistent advocacy played a key role in ensuring Sowore’s eventual release.
“The resilience of Nigerians, civil society organizations, and media advocates in the face of tyranny is commendable,” Temokun continued. “This moment reminds us that the rule of law can still prevail when citizens refuse to remain silent.”
However, he also cautioned that Sowore’s legal troubles are not yet over. “The struggle is not over. The charges remain in court, and we will continue to confront them with the full force of law and truth,” the lawyer added, reaffirming the legal team’s commitment to defending Sowore’s rights and ensuring that justice is served.
Sowore, a long-time advocate for democratic reforms and government accountability, has faced multiple arrests and prosecutions in recent years over his activism and outspoken criticism of government policies. His most recent detention reignited debates over the shrinking civic space, press freedom, and the misuse of state power to silence dissenting voices in Nigeria.
In concluding remarks, Temokun issued a powerful reminder about the broader implications of Sowore’s case: “Nigeria must never become a country where our voice becomes our crime.”
Sowore’s release has since attracted widespread reactions across social media and from the international community, with many calling for renewed commitment to judicial independence, human rights, and the protection of civic freedoms.
As the legal proceedings continue, many observers see Sowore’s case as a litmus test for Nigeria’s democracy and its adherence to the rule of law in an increasingly challenging political climate.
News
60 Million Nigerians Engage Daily in Gambling Activities
Agama raised concerns over the alarmingly low participation of Nigerians in the traditional capital market, revealing that fewer than 4 per cent of the country’s adult population are active investors.
•SEC DG, Dr. Emomotimi Agama.
More than 60 million Nigerians engaged daily in gambling activities, spending an estimated $5.5 million every day.
This was disclosed by the Director-General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama.
Agama made the revelation in a lead paper, titled “Evaluating the Nigerian Capital Market Master plan 2015-2025,” presented during the annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers.
He said, “This reveals a paradox, a risk appetite clearly exists, but not the trust or access to channel that energy into productive investment.”
He disclosed that over $50 billion worth of cryptocurrency transactions flowed through Nigeria between July 2023 and June 2024, underscoring the sophistication and risk tolerance of investors that the traditional market has yet to capture.
Agama raised concerns over the alarmingly low participation of Nigerians in the traditional capital market, revealing that fewer than 4 per cent of the country’s adult population are active investors.
He described the low participation rate as a major impediment to economic growth and capital formation.
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