Senate President Akpabio seeks upturn of Court ruling on Natasha’s Suspension
Senate President Akpabio seeks upturn of Court ruling on Natasha’s Suspension
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has approached the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn a July 4, 2025, ruling by Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Justice Nyako had ordered the Senate to recall the suspended Kogi State Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The court found the senator guilty of contempt and imposed a fine of N5 million, while also directing her to tender an apology.
The Court of Appeal heard and reserved judgment on the appeal and cross-appeal filed by both Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio, stemming from the lower court’s decision on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suit seeking to halt the Senate’s investigation into her alleged misconduct.
A three-member panel of appellate justices reserved judgment after counsel for the parties adopted their processes and presented arguments supporting and opposing the appeals.
The Senate President challenged Justice Nyako’s judgment, with his legal team arguing that the lower court lacked jurisdiction, noting that the matter concerned “the internal affairs of the National Assembly and is therefore insulated from judicial review under Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution.”
The trial court had ruled that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension was unconstitutional, excessive, and violated her constituents’ right to representation.
In a cross-appeal dated July 11, Mr. Akpabio, through lead counsel Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, asked the appellate court to nullify the judgment, describing it as “erroneous and a gross miscarriage of justice.”
In an 11-ground appeal, he faulted the trial court for dismissing his preliminary objection and issuing orders that, according to him, “interfere with parliamentary procedures protected by law.”
He further argued that “matters relating to suspension of members, utterances made during plenary, and resolutions of the Senate fall squarely within the protective scope of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, and cannot be subjected to external adjudication.”
The cross-appeal by the Senate President came just two days after Akpoti-Uduaghan filed her own appeal at the Court of Appeal, challenging the N5 million fine imposed on her by the Federal High Court. The fine followed a civil contempt ruling by Justice Nyako over a satirical Facebook post she made while her case against the Senate was ongoing.
In her six-ground appeal, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the contempt ruling as “violating her fundamental rights” and argued that the fine was “legally unfounded.”
The appeals, marked CA/ABJ/CJ/739/2025, CA/ABJ/CJ/1208/2025, and CA/ABJ/CJ/739/2025CA/A//2025, all originate from the rights suit she filed with number FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, which sought to stop the Senate from investigating her.
At Friday’s hearing, Akpabio, through his lawyer Eko Ejembi Eko, SAN, withdrew one of the cross-appeals, noting that it had been overtaken by events as Akpoti-Uduaghan had since resumed her Senate duties, leading to the dismissal of the appeal.
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JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, declaring that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, will be heading the council for a period of 2 years.
The declaration follows the passing of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the state House of Assembly, and the signing of the same into law by the governor.
Recall that the lawmakers had amended Clause 5 of Section 28 of the Chieftaincy Law to make the Council chairmanship rotational among the Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomoso, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
While inaugurating the Council, Governor Makinde said he had consulted with the trio of the Alaafin, the Olubadan and the Soun, with the three of them reaching a consensus that the chairmanship should start with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
The Inspector General of Police (I-GP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has assured that the police remained committed to community policing to ensure that criminals were drastically reduced in the country.
The I-GP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector of Police ( AIG) Zone 17, Dr Ajani Musibau, stated this at the Police Community Relations Committee ( PCRC) National Leadership Training and Conference on Thursday in Akure.
The theme of the conference is: “Inclusivity and Diversity: the New Leadership Paradigm.”
He said that security could not be achieved by only the police, but with the support from the community.
The I-GP stated that security was a joint work and responsibility of all, commending the current leadership of the Nigeria Police for a paradigm shift towards modern policing.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Adebowale Lawal, said that bandits could not infiltrate the state due to community policing strategy embraced by the command.
He explained that bandits would have infiltrated the state through Kogi and Edo, but intelligence reports from members of PCRC had been a great help to the police command.
According to him, the support and logistics received from the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun and Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa had also motivated police personnel to work earnestly.
He said that effective community policing was a sure way to curb activities of criminals, and implored members of the public not to relent in their efforts to provide police and other security agencies with useful information.
Lawal also commended other conventional security agencies, forest guards and vigilantes for their support to the police in fighting bandits
In his remarks, the National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Mogaji said that the conference was to strengthen leaders of PCRC in the South-West zone and encourage them to redouble their efforts and support in fighting crimes.
According to Mogaji, the occasion also enabled the association to appreciate Gov. Aiyedatiwa, I-GP, the AIG Zone 17 and the state Commissioner of Police.
He advised the participants to moblise other members of PCRC and orientate them on their roles to continue to fight crime in the country.
The PCRC national chairman asked Nigerians to respect the dignity of police and to be civil when interacting with them.
Mogaji said that the leadership training would be replicated in other geo-political zones of the country.
Also, Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security, Mr Gbenga Atiba, commended the PCRC , AIG Zone 17, and the Commissioner of Police for their unrelenting efforts to guarantee peace across the state.
Aiyedatiwa promised that the state government would give PCRC attention and continue to support police and other security agencies with appropriate logistics that would make policing more effective.
A guest lecturer, Comrade Yinka Folarin asked members of the public to give respect and dignity to members of the police, saying that they also had rights that must be respected.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PCRC honoured Gov. Aiyedatiwa, AIG Zone 17 and the Commissioner of Police with awards. (NAN)
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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for improved welfare packages for armed forces personnel and all members of the security and intelligence community to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.
National Chairman of PDP, Tanimu Turaki, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
Turaki also urged the Federal Government to adequately fund security agencies to effectively neutralise those he described as agents of insecurity, and restore peace to the country.
He expressed PDP’s condolences to the families of members of the armed forces who died in active service while executing their mandate of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“On a day like this, we acknowledge that they paid the supreme price for the continuous existence of our country.
“We advise all actors, whether state or non-state, not to engage in actions capable of destabilising the country.
“In honour of those who have died to keep our country safe, we pray that their deaths may not be in vain and their labours not forgotten,” Turaki said.(NAN)
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