Connect with us
Maduka University Advert

News

PDP condemns Natasha’s suspension, insists Akpabio must submit self for open investigation

Published

on

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio
Spread the love

…urges Senate to redeem its image and integrity by immediately reinstating Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan

Senator Natasha Akpoti and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned in very strong terms the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate over her allegation of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Friday, asserted that the action of the Akpabio-led Senate leadership against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan smacks of a desperation to cover up.

Hon. Ologunagba observed that the hasty suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan without an open investigation into the weighty allegation of sexual harassment against the Senate President not only negates the principle of fair hearing especially in parliamentary convention but also portrays the Senate as an institution that endorses, condones and offers protection to reprobacy.

According to him, the excessively harsh six months suspension on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan translates to denying the people of Kogi Central Senatorial Zone their Constitutional right of being represented in the Senate.

“It is scandalous, and amounts to gross abuse of office and violation of the fundamentals of justice and fair hearing for Senator Akpabio to sit as a judge in a matter in which he is the accused; a situation which validates public apprehension of a desperation by the embattled Senate President to suppress open legislative probe into the allegation of sexual harassment leveled against him.

Maduka College Advert

The PDP National Secretary recalled that this would not be the first time Senator Akpabio is accused of sexual harassment. The current episode in the Senate reminds Nigerians of the allegation of sexual harassment leveled against Senator Akpabio by the former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Joi Nunieh.

“If Senator Akpabio has nothing to hide, what Nigerians expected of him was to clear his name by stepping aside in line with established parliamentary practice, allow and submit to an open and unbiased investigation into the allegation of sexual harassment by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“It is indeed a national embarrassment that the person of the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly is being mentioned in a case of sexual harassment which has now tarred the image and integrity of the highest lawmaking body in Nigeria. Ordinarily under this situation the Senate President needs no prodding to step aside for an independent investigation to clear his name.

“More distressing is the fact that since Senator Akpabio assumed office as the Senate President, the leadership of the Senate has been largely unfocused and constantly embroiled in scandals including allegations of financial impropriety as well as negligence and abdication of its constitutional duty of checks and balances to the excesses of the Executive Arm to the detriment of millions of Nigerians.

“Moreover, Nigerians can recall that there are pending investigations before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegation of looting of N108.1 billion belonging to Akwa Ibom State under Senator Akpabio’s watch as Governor as well as alleged N86 billion contract scam in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

“Given the height of public anxiety on this allegation of sexual harassment which has already escalated into protests at the National Assembly, the PDP urges the Senate to redeem its image and integrity by immediately reinstating Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and ensuring an open investigation into the matter”, he said.

News

OAU medical student collapses, dies before final exam

Published

on

Spread the love

Adewole Emmanuel, a 400-level medical student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has died after reportedly collapsing moments before his final session examination.

Emmanuel’s death was announced on Thursday in a statement by the Ife University Medical Students Association.

The association lamented the sudden departure, describing Emmanuel as a solid pillar of his class.

The statement read in part, “Under the cover of dark clouds, we write to you with the heaviest of hearts to inform you of the passing of one of our own, an integral part of the association and a solid pillar of his class.

While describing the deceased as “a colleague, friend, roommate, and a Part 4 medical student with an undeniably bright future until the time of his passing”, the association added that “This incident is not only sad, but crucially painful as we lost a rising star and a loving member of the IFUMSA family.”

“In honoring his dearest memories, we kindly ask the general public to do without speculations and respect the privacy of the family during this vulnerable period.”

Maduka College Advert

Speaking under condition of anonymity, a senior member of the association said the student died on Wednesday without an underlying ailment.

“He died yesterday. But he hadn’t been sick. He just collapsed and couldn’t be resuscitated,” the source said.

“We were about to write our final exam for the session. And during the process of waiting for the exam, he suddenly collapsed in the college and died.

“It’s just unfortunate as he didn’t have any underlying medical condition. We have contacted his family already.”

Continue Reading

News

Misdemeanor: Senator Jim Nwobodo’s wife, Patricia loses at Enugu Magistrate Court

Published

on

Father remanded in prison for alleged sexual assault of 7-year-old daughter
Spread the love

..As court srikes out charges against CEO, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Ogbuanu, 3 others, Awards N1m cost against her

An Enugu State Magistrate Court has struck out a four-count criminal charge brought against a Lagos-based cleric and Chief Executive Officer, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Basil Ogbuanu, and three of his workers.
.
The court also awarded a N1m cost against Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo, the wife of a former governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, for her failure to prosecute the case.
.
The ruling, delivered by His Worship D.K. Ekoh at the Enugu South Magisterial District, followed the persistent absence of the complainants since the inception of the matter in January 2026.
.
The defendants, Ezeh Patrick Muoneke, 46; Arinze Onoja, 26; Sedro Theodore, 28; and Basil Ogbuanu, 56, were arraigned on January 20, 2026, on charges bordering on conspiracy, deprivation of liberty, and assault.
.
The four- count charge levelled against them read:
.
“That you Eze Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Only a ‘m’, on the 16th day of January, 2026 at about 1300hours at Patin-Son Estate, Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu within Enugu Magisterial District did conspire among themselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Deprivation of Liberty and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 496(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
.
Count 11: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Mrs Patricia M. Nwobodo ‘f’ against her will from 11hours to 13hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State 2004.
.
Count 111: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ against his will from 1100hours to 1300hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
.
Count IV: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’ Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ by beating him all over his body and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 252 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
.
However, during the proceedings on April 15, 2026, the police prosecutor, B.C. Nnadozie, admitted that he had not seen the complainants since the matter started.
.
Nnadozie told the court that he could not “manufacture oath” or serve witness statements on the defence as he had no contact with the nominal complainants.
.
Counsel for the defendants, Emeka Oko, urged the court to dismiss the charge, noting that his clients, who are busy artisans and a Lagos resident, had suffered by traveling to Enugu for a case the complainants were not interested in pursuing.
.
Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Ekoh lambasted the conduct of the complainants, describing it as a clear indication of their lack of desire to prosecute the matter.
.
“A complainant whose complaint was investigated and to her knowledge is aware of the charge proffered against the defendants decides to stay in her luxury home without prosecuting her complaint, should as well pay damages to the person(s) she wrongfully complained against”, he said
.
The court subsequently struck out the charge and ordered that the defendants must not be re-arrested on the strength of the same complaint.
.
The trial Magistrate also granted the application for N1m cost against the complainant to be paid to the defendants.

Continue Reading

News

Ojukwu was fighter for justice, Man of ideas — Bianca

Published

on

File Photo: Late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu and Bianca
Spread the love

Wife of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has said that the ex-Biafra leader was not just synonymous with fight for justice but also a strong believer in the power of knowledge.

This is as the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, called for climate action, pointing out that it was more detrimental to do nothing.

He delivered the guest lecture on the theme- “Sustainable and Climate Resilience Future: Beyond Rhetorics,” on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the 4th Annual Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Memorial Lecture.

The event was organised by the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State, on its Founders’ Day as part of the 16th convocation ceremony.

The minister said the event was not a mere ceremony but a convergence of history, intellect, and legacy.

She said: “We gather to honour and reflect on the life of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a towering figure whose contributions to Nigeria’s political evolution and whose unwavering commitment to the dignity of his people remain indelible. He was not only a soldier and statesman, but also a man of ideas, a leader who believed in the power of knowledge, justice, and principled leadership.

Maduka College Advert

“Dim Ojukwu’s legacy compels us to ask difficult questions about nationhood, equity, inclusion, and the responsibilities of leadership. His life reminds us that leadership is not defined by convenience, but by courage, sacrifice, and the willingness to stand for what is just, even in the face of overwhelming odds.”

The minister stated that the university was promoting climate resilience, the same way Odumegwu-Ojukwu did.

According to her, the Igbo leader loved planting trees, and understood long before many others, even before climate action became more amplified, that respecting nature’s balance was important and that “trees were the silent guardians of our air, our soil and our future.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as we reflect on the life and legacy of Dim Ojukwu, let us recommit ourselves to building a Nigeria anchored on justice, unity, and shared prosperity. Let us invest in education, empower our youth, and strengthen our institutions, for these are the pillars upon which sustainable development rests.”

She also charged the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the institution, urging them to see the knowledge they had acquired as mere foundation because their character, resilience, and integrity will define their journey.

“Be ambassadors of this great institution, uphold its values, and contribute meaningfully to national and global development,” she stated while further highlighting the importance of strengthening the nexus between academia and policy.

The minister said that universities must continue to serve as think tanks, generating ideas and research that can inform government policies, particularly in areas of foreign relations, economic diplomacy, and national development strategies.

She said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would remain open to such collaborations, as they work towards projecting Nigeria’s image positively on the global stage.

She wished the University and its brand new Governing Council, a highly successful founders’ day celebrations.

The EU Ambassador, Mignot described the minister as a major promoter of Nigeria-EU partnership.

The Vice Chancellor of COOU, Prof Kate Omenugha extolled the Minister for the leverage she had given the university by facilitating their reach especially in the diplomatic community.

Continue Reading

Trending

Maduka College Advert