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National Assembly writes Natasha’s lawyer, insists court didn’t order her reinstatement

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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
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The National Assembly has informed the legal counsel to Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that the judgement of the Federal High Court did not issue any binding directive her immediate reinstatement to the Senate.

In a letter dated 14 July and addressed to her legal counsel, Michael Numa, SAN, the National Assembly stated that no court order exists compelling the Senate or its leadership to reinstate the suspended senator.

The letter, signed by Charles Yoila, director of Litigation and Counselling at the National Assembly, was written on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA).

The response came after Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan notified the National Assembly through her lawyer, of her intention to resume legislative duties on Tuesday, 15 July, urging the Senate leadership to treat her notice as urgent and in line with the court judgement to avoid contempt proceedings.

However, the National Assembly management maintained that the judgement by Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court was merely advisory not an enforceable order.

“For our summary of the judgement order, there is no order made on the 4th day of July, 2025 by Hon. Justice B.F.N. Nyako for the Senate, President of the Senate or National Assembly to comply with. The declaratory judgment merely advised the Defendants to exercise their power to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and allow her to resume representing the people who sent her to represent them.”

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The National Assembly, therefore, urged the senator’s legal team to exercise patience and await a final decision from the Senate.

“Accordingly, you may wish to advise your client to await the action of the Senate to exercise their power of recall as advised by the court and in terms with the judgement of the Honourable Court, please.”

The Clerk’s stance reinforces the position earlier expressed by the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, who on Sunday stated that the Certified True Copy of the court’s Enrolled Order did not include any declaratory or injunctive pronouncement compelling the Senate to reinstate Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.

What the court ruling actually says

The judge, Mrs Nyako delivered a judgment in the senator’s favour, saying that suspending an elected lawmaker for six months effectively denies a constituency its right to representation.

However, the judgement stopped short of ordering her immediate recall. She offered an advisory opinion urging the Senate to reconsider the suspension but did not issue a binding directive enforcing her reinstatement.

In a separate aspect of the judgement, the court found Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of civil contempt over a satirical post she made on social media, which the court believed was disrespectful to its proceedings.

Instead of sentencing her to prison, the judge imposed a N5 million fine and ordered her to publish a public apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page within seven days. She has since appealed this aspect of the judgement.

Legal analysts have noted that the judgement highlights the complex balance between judicial oversight and legislative independence. While courts can review legislative conduct to ensure constitutional compliance, they are generally reluctant to interfere directly in parliamentary procedures.

Akpabio appeals judgement

Meanwhile, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has filed a cross-appeal at the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn the judgement.

In the notice of cross-appeal dated 11 July, Mr Akpabio, through his counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, argued that the Federal High Court erred in law and committed a miscarriage of justice by ruling against the Senate.

The appeal, which raises eleven grounds, challenged both the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court and the substantive ruling itself.

Mr Akpabio argued that the court lacked the authority to intervene in the Senate’s disciplinary process, especially as the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions had not completed its investigation at the time the suit was instituted.

He further contended that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanisms available under the Senate Standing Orders before approaching the court, rendering the case premature.

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Security guard kidnaps employer’s two children, demands ransom

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The abducted children
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A private security guard has escaped with two kids from his employer in Minna, with the police suspecting abduction.

The security guard, named Sani Abdulrahaman, a Fulani by tribe, on Sunday, reportedly took Umaru and Anas, both six years old, on Sallah picnic without the knowledge of their father, Alhaji Danjuma, a businessman, and failed to bring them back home.

The father of the children raised the alarm asking the public and security agencies to help him locate the fleeing security guard and his children.

Danjuma said someone called him on Sunday evening and said he was in Erena forest in Shiroro Local Government Area with the children.

According to him, the caller asked for undisclosed ransom before his children who were in their custody would be released.

When contacted, Niger State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, which he said occurred about one o’clock on Sunday, May 31.

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Abiodun explained that the security man pretended that he was taking the children for Sallah celebration in the town, but did not return.

He said the police suspected abduction but disclosed that “investigation has commenced and efforts to locate the children are ongoing.”

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Police arrest suspect behind AI-generated Tinubu voice note

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Ifechukwu Dennis, the suspect
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The Nigerian Police Force has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis, the man identified as the originator of an AI-generated voice note that was widely circulated online as a leaked recording of President Bola Tinubu.

Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the arrest on Thursday in a post on his official X account.

“The IGP crack team has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis who originated the fake voice that he passed on to his gullible targets as President Tinubu’s voice,” he said.

The arrest closes a week-long controversy that began on May 27, 2026, when a video of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, went viral.

In the clip, an AI-generated voice resembling Tinubu’s was heard making inflammatory statements — including that insecurity in the South-East was deliberate, that he had pressured Peter Obi to step down ahead of the 2023 election, and that he was indifferent to Nigerians’ suffering.

Investigations by multiple news organisations, however, established that VDM had not posted the doctored audio.

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An unidentified individual had extracted footage from VDM’s original Instagram video and superimposed the AI-generated voice notes before recirculating the manipulated version online.

Despite this, the Presidency had initially called for VDM’s prosecution.

Onanuga had described the incident as “a clear case of egregious abuse of the social media platform,” drawing criticism after fact-checkers confirmed VDM’s original video contained none of the fabricated audio.

Further details on the circumstances of Dennis’s arrest and the charges he may face were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.

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Five abducted Kwara worshippers killed, one escapes, others still held

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Terrorists have killed five out of the eight worshippers abducted at ECWA Church Omugo in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state, says one escaped abductees.

Rev Sunday Omole had urged federal government to expedite action on the release of the abductees from the captivity of the terrorists.

The clergyman said government intervention had become necessary after the community paid the terrorists N20 million and provided additional items worth more than N300,000, yet the abductors refused to release the worshippers and instead demanded an additional N300 million ransom.

He added that from the action of the terrorists it was clear that they just wanted to be exploiting the community.

Recall that eight of the worshippers including the Pastor’s wife were kidnapped in the morning of March 22,2026 during a Sunday service.

The death of the five worshippers including the Pastor’s wife was disclosed in a statement issued by the Pastor of the church, Rev Sunday Omole, Wednesday evening.

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The statement reads:

“It is with deep pain in my heart that I inform the church, families and individual concerned in regard to the 8 people that were abducted from ECWA OMUGO on 22nd of March, 2026.

“We received one of our son’s, Mr Sunday Bakare also abducted over a month ago, he escaped and brought the following news that only 3 out of 8 of our people are remaining with the kidnappers. The remaining 5 have gone to be with the Lord.

“They are; Elder Chief David Omopariola,
Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun,
Mrs Iyabo Aniyi,
Elder Joshua Akanbi Adeyemi and
Mrs. Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole(his wife).

“Brethren, let’s know that God knows why He allows this to happen. The great comforter will comfort us in Jesus name, amen.

“The prayers of the saints in the beginning of the church also worked and answered still they had martyrs. John 16:33 says (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace . In this world you will have trouble . But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Heaven is our home and Gain. Let’s reason as child of God as we navigate this moment. God bless you, and comfort you all in Jesus name, amen.”concluded the statement.

It was also gathered that the three remaining worshipers are in terrible health condition, while a member of church who escaped from the terrorists captivity is currently receiving an urgent medical attention in a private hospital in OmuAran.

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