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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.”
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FEC Hold Session of Tributes for Buhari, Tomorrow
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead the session of tributes for the departed leader
A special session of the Federal Executive Council in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari will be held on Thursday 17 July from 1pm.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead the session of tributes for the departed leader, according to Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s spokesman.
The Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose of money laundering and theft charges totaling ₦6.9 billion.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, who presided over the case, upheld a no-case submission filed by Fayose’s legal team, ruling that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to establish a prima facie case or link him directly to the alleged offences.
Originally arraigned in 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, the case was later reassigned to Justice Aneke at the EFCC’s request.
The anti-graft agency had accused Fayose of receiving ₦1.2 billion for his 2014 governorship campaign and accepting $5 million in cash from then Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, without passing through a financial institution. He was also alleged to have laundered over ₦1.6 billion through companies such as De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd to acquire properties.
Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, were re-arraigned on 11 counts of money laundering and theft, with the alleged crimes said to have been committed during his time in office, involving funds reportedly traced to the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Defending the former governor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Kanu Agabi argued that the EFCC failed to substantiate its claims and noted that key figures allegedly involved, including Abiodun Agbele, were not charged.
“The predicate offences on which these charges are based do not hold water. Criminal breach of trust and conspiracy are distinct, and no co-conspirator was charged alongside the defendant,” Agabi stated.
Agreeing with the argument, Justice Aneke ruled in favour of the no-case submission and discharged Fayose.
News
JUST IN: Sanwo-Olu Warns Against Attacks on LASTMA Officers, Vows Offenders Will Face Full Force of the Law
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed his administration’s zero tolerance for assaults on officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), warning that anyone found guilty will face the full weight of the law.
Represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu gave the warning on Tuesday at the Second Lagos Traffic Conference, held in celebration of LASTMA’s 25th anniversary.
The event, themed “Enhancing Traffic Efficiency and Safety on Lagos Roads: Challenges, Opportunities, and Innovations,” marked a key milestone for the agency responsible for managing traffic across the state.
The governor praised the dedication of LASTMA officers who, he said, often operate under dangerous and demanding conditions to maintain road order.
“I want to specially commend the men and women of LASTMA whose unwavering commitment ensures that Lagos keeps moving. Your uniform stands as the thin yellow line between road order and chaos,” he said.
He paid tribute to officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty, calling them heroes whose sacrifices would never be forgotten.
Looking ahead, Sanwo-Olu shared his vision of transforming LASTMA into a technology-driven agency. He revealed plans to invest in AI-powered systems, automated number plate recognition, and drone surveillance to improve traffic flow and incident response across Lagos.
“These innovations will enhance our ability to monitor real-time traffic, ease congestion, and strengthen enforcement,” he said.
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