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Senator Natasha Responds To Akpabio’s Defamation Petition To Police IG, Cites Fear For Her Safety

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But Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, speaking through her legal counsel Victor Giwa, said her comments were not made for political leverage but out of genuine fear for her safety.

The suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has strongly responded to a formal petition filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in which she is accused of criminal defamation and incitement over allegations of an assassination plot.

But Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, speaking through her legal counsel Victor Giwa, said her comments were not made for political leverage but out of genuine fear for her safety.

“She has received the petition and has responded,” Giwa said. “What happened when she made that statement was her crying out to the general public to understand what she is exposed to.”

Giwa also criticised what he called a deliberate act of endangerment by Senate leadership, alleging that Natasha’s security details were withdrawn immediately after her suspension.

 

“You are aware that the Senate President ordered the withdrawal of her security,” Giwa noted.

“If somebody has committed gross misconduct, what has that got to do with the withdrawal of her security? She is a politically exposed person. You stopped her from entering the Senate, fine. But she has a life outside the complex. She is entitled to protection.”

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate for six months under controversial circumstances earlier this year.

Ekwutosblog  on Thursday reported that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had formally petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, seeking an investigation into an alleged assassination plot made against him by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In the petition dated April 3, 2025, Akpabio denied the serious accusation and called for the prosecution of Akpoti-Uduaghan for criminal defamation.

The petition, which was also copied to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), comes after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public outburst on April 1, 2025.

During a speech in Kogi State, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of instructing former Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello to assassinate her in Kogi State, claiming that the act was intended to make it appear that her constituents were responsible for her death.

Akpabio categorically denied the accusation, calling it a “heinous lie” and a “reckless and deliberate attempt” to tarnish his reputation.

In his petition, the Senate President labelled the allegation as politically motivated, accusing Akpoti-Uduaghan of attempting to incite political unrest and damage his public image.

He stressed that the allegation was made without any supporting evidence.

The Senate President also highlighted the severe impact of the false allegation, especially given its widespread coverage across media platforms, including radio, television, and social media. He urged law enforcement agencies to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.

He said, “I write to formally bring to your attention and seek immediate investigation and prosecution of a criminally defamatory and malicious statement made against me by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a suspended member of the Nigerian Senate on the 1st of April, 2025 and which was widely publicised on radio stations, televisions and newspapers, including the social media.

“In the public outburst at Kogi State while addressing her audience, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan falsely alleged that I instructed the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to “assassinate her in Kogi State instead of Abuja” with the intent of making it appear that her constituents were responsible for her death.

“This statement is not only a heinous lie but a reckless and deliberate attempt to damage my reputation, endanger my life and security, and incite political unrest.

 

“I categorically state that this allegation is entirely false, unfounded, and politically motivated. It is a calculated act of blackmail and character assassination, designed to portray me as a political villain, and the statement was made without any shred of truth or supporting evidence.”

He further added that the statement was intended to manipulate public sentiment and malign his person and office.

“Her motive was clear, which was to incite the public, manipulate sentiments, and malign my person and office in the eyes of the Nigerian people and the international community,” he said.

“The severity of this false allegation, and the fact that it has gained public traction, makes it necessary that law enforcement agencies treat it with the urgency it deserves.”

In the petition, Akpabio called for the “immediate investigation into the false and inciting allegation” and the prosecution of “Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan under the relevant provisions of the law for criminal defamation, incitement, false accusation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace”.

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Heavy rainfall may trigger flooding in Northern states – Ministry

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The Federal Ministry of Environment has warned that many parts of Northern Nigeria may experience heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding between July 16 and July 20, 2025.

The warning was contained in a flood prediction notice from the National Flood Early Warning Center and was signed by Usman Abdullahi Bokani, Director of Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management on Wednesday.

According to the notice, the affected states in the North include Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Plateau, and Zamfara.

“In Kano State, the areas listed are Kunchi, Kano, Gezawa, Wudil, Bebeji, Sumaila, and Tudun Wada.

“In Jigawa State, the alert covers Miga, Gwaram, Diginsa, Ringim, and Dutse. Katsina State’s Daura is also on the list, along with Gusau and Bungudu in Zamfara State,” the notice revealed.

The Flood Center urged all relevant stakeholders to take the warning seriously and prepare ahead to reduce the impact of any possible flooding.

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Aisha was divorced from Buhari before he died – Farooq Kperogi

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A Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Farooq Kperogi, has alleged that Aisha was no longer married to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kperogi made this claim in a post on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday.

According to him, Aisha had dropped Buhari as her surname and reverted to her maiden name, Halilu.

He further alleged that Aisha was reluctant to travel to the United Kingdom to care for Buhari when he became ill.

Kperogi was reacting to quotes attributed to Aisha, which claimed Buhari had asked her to seek forgiveness from Nigerians on his behalf.

Although Kperogi said he could not confirm the authenticity of the quotes, he maintained that the couple were no longer married.

He wrote: “They had divorced, and Aisha reverted to her maiden name, Aisha Halilu. If you paid close attention, you would notice that Aisha didn’t go to Daura when he retired to the town after leaving office.

“Buhari was also alone when he later relocated to Kaduna. In fact, when he fell ill and it was suggested that Aisha travel to London to care for him, she reportedly hesitated because she was no longer his wife.”

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Empowerment or Embarrassment? Abia Rep Member Hon. Ibe Okwara Sparks Backlash After Distributing Buckets to Women in His Constituency.

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In what was intended as a gesture of grassroots empowerment, the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, has come under fire after distributing plastic buckets to women in his constituency as part of an empowerment programme.

The event, which took place in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, drew immediate reactions from both residents and social media users, many of whom described the gesture as “demeaning,” “insulting,” and a stark departure from the expectations of meaningful representation.

Photos from the event showed women, some elderly lining up to receive branded plastic buckets, sparking a flurry of criticism over what many perceived as a tone-deaf approach to empowerment in a region grappling with youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, and economic hardship.

“This is not empowerment; it’s embarrassment,” a resident of Elu Ohafia told our correspondent. “We sent a representative to fight for opportunities in Abuja, not to bring us buckets as if we are refugees.”

Another community youth leader questioned the priorities of the lawmaker: “With all the constituency funds allocated, is this the best Hon. Ibe Okwara can offer the women of Arochukwu and Ohafia? Is this how he plans to reduce poverty, one bucket at a time?”

The incident has reignited the ongoing debate over what constitutes meaningful empowerment in Nigeria’s political landscape. Critics argue that symbolic or tokenistic gestures have replaced genuine development efforts, with many elected officials resorting to the distribution of trivial items under the guise of empowerment.

Attempts to reach Hon. Ibe Okwara for comments were unsuccessful as of press time. However, aides close to the lawmaker defended the initiative, describing it as “a modest intervention aimed at reaching out to rural women with useful household items.”

Still, for many constituents, the optics of the event speak louder than the intention.

 

Political observers warn that such missteps may have long-term consequences, especially as constituents become increasingly vocal about demanding transparency, impact-driven representation, and measurable development.

 

As the 2027 elections approach, residents say they will no longer be pacified with handouts, but will demand leaders who can deliver policy-driven progress and tangible infrastructure.

“This is 2025,” a frustrated youth from Abam lamented. “We can’t be clapping for buckets anymore.”

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