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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what he called a deliberate act of endangerment by Senate leadership, alleging that Natasha’s security details were withdrawn immediately after her suspension.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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Lagos businesswoman faces N2.9bn theft charge in Flutterwave fraud

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The Federal High Court in Lagos has postponed the trial ofa businesswoman, Iwegue Ijeoma Ruth, who is facing allegations of stealing N2.9 billion from the financial portals of Merchant of Flutterwave Technologies Solutions Limited.

Ruth was arraigned before the court by the office of the Inspector General of Police on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, fraudulent conversion, and advance fee fraud.

According to the charge sheet, Ruth and an accomplice who is currently at large allegedly gained unauthorized access to the company’s financial portals between February 5 and 7, 2023. They are accused of fraudulently transferring N2,949,557,867.80 to multiple accounts belonging to her associates.

Investigators also alleged that Ruth subsequently received N821,383,600 into two personal accounts, 540154325 and 5400831481, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.

The prosecution maintained that the offences contravene Sections 1, 7(1)(2), and 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2016.

Justice of the Federal High Court adjourned the matter to November 4, 2025 for continuation of trial.

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We Gave Detained Rivers Pastor Consent To Flog, Purify Our Children With Pigeon Blood –Parents

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The pastor, identified as Ifediorah Joseph, was arrested by police after flogging multiple children during a three-day programme he claimed was meant to “purify” them.

Parents of several minors filmed being brutalised by a Rivers State pastor during a so-called “spiritual cleansing” ritual have defended his actions, insisting they gave their full consent.

The pastor, identified as Ifediorah Joseph, was arrested by police after flogging multiple children during a three-day programme he claimed was meant to “purify” them.

However, the controversial cleansing ritual also involved the use of pigeon blood.

Following his arrest, a group of parents and children appeared at the police station in Port Harcourt, singing and dancing in solidarity with the embattled cleric.

One of the parents of the abused children said in an interview with journalists, “My daughter was among the children that was purified. The message was that death was in the air, and they should purify the children. They did the purification with pigeon blood, water and palm fruit.”

However, Nwamaka Ikediashi, an official of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Rivers State, has said that the parents of the minors require counselling.

She made the remark on Friday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme, where she provided an update on the incident and outlined steps taken by the agency.

“It is a total case of child abuse, and the parents are victims, and they are supposed to be made to understand the implications of this whole thing, and that can only be made possible via counseling,” she said.

“The parents are victims as well because they do not understand the implications, but if they did understand, they would not let their children be subjected to such inhuman treatment and torture,” she added

Previously, Ekwutosblog reported that the Nigeria Police Force had arrested the pastor captured in a viral video savagely flogging children inside a church building in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The arrest was confirmed in a press statement issued by the police on Wednesday.

The disturbing footage, which surfaced online in recent days, showed the pastor viciously whipping several children, many of them stripped naked, within the premises of a church in the Eneka area of Port Harcourt.

Some of the victims appeared to be toddlers, screaming in pain as they endured the assault.

A large basin containing a red liquid resembling blood was visible in the background, further amplifying the horror of the scene.

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Imo pastor arrested for allegedly raping worshipper during prayer session

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The Imo Police Command has detained 32-year-old Ikenna Emmanuel, a pastor, and his alleged accomplice, one Franklin Chizoba, for allegedly raping a 20-year-old lady under the pretext of organising prayers for her.

The command’s Spokesman, DSP Henry Okoye, disclosed this in a statement issued in Owerri and made available to newsmen on Thursday.

Okoye alleged that the pastor, who is in-charge of Authentic Power City Church, hails from Umuobom, Ideato-South Local Government Area of the state.

He stated that on June 30, Chizoba lured the lady to the pastor, who allegedly offered the victim a drink laced with drugs in his residence.

“Shortly afterwards, she became dizzy, after which both suspects had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.

“Following the report, operatives from Orlu Division promptly arrested the duo.

“During interrogation, both suspects confessed to the offence and further admitted to engaging in homosexual acts.

“They were subsequently charged to court on Aug. 12, and remanded at the Correctional Facility, Owerri, pending trial,” Okoye stated.

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