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ADC asks Senate, Akpabio to allow Senator Natasha resume
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the continued refusal to allow Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume her seat in the Senate after completing a six-month suspension.
The ADC described the action as a violation of democratic principles and a dangerous precedent.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused the Senate leadership of defying legal and moral obligations by blocking the Kogi Central lawmaker from returning to the chamber.
“The continued obstruction of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her seat is not only malicious but deeply injurious to the spirit of our constitutional democracy,” the statement read.
“Whether one agrees with the basis for her suspension or not, its tenure has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her return is both illegal and morally indefensible.”
The ADC warned that the move reflects an increasingly anti-democratic posture by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, which it accused of silencing opposition voices and punishing dissent.
According to the statement, Senator Natasha was stripped of her salaries, legislative aides, and access to her office during the suspension — measures the party described as “institutional mugging.”
“Even more disturbing is the posture of the Senate leadership, which acts as though legislative power can be exercised without accountability. A suspension that has run its course cannot be made indefinite by stealth,” Abdullahi said, citing legal experts who insist that a pending court case cannot override a senator’s constitutional mandate.
The party also criticized the Acting Clerk of the National Assembly for refusing to process Natasha’s resumption, accusing him of “administrative complicity” and insisting that his role is to facilitate, not adjudicate, parliamentary matters.
The ADC stressed that Natasha’s continued exclusion undermines women’s political participation, noting that she is one of only four female senators out of 109.
“Nigeria’s female representation in the Senate stands at just 2.7 percent, one of the lowest in Africa,” the statement added. “Actions that intimidate or sideline the few women in parliament will only worsen gender imbalance and damage Nigeria’s global image.”
The party demanded that Senator Natasha be allowed to immediately resume her duties, describing the matter as a test of Nigeria’s commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and inclusion.
National grid collapse throws Nigeria into darkness as capacity crashes to 120MW
A general view of a power distribution plant which has ran out of power supply following a collapse of the national grid resulting in total blackout in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, on March 15, 2022. From Nigerian airlines to Malawi bakers, African countries are feeling the pain of Ukraine’s crisis as supply disruptions hike inflation and oil prices push up fuel costs. Global oil prices touched ten-year highs of more than $100 a barrel soon after Russia invaded Ukraine, doubling diesel prices for African countries like Nigeria. Ukraine and Russia are both major suppliers of wheat and grains to Africa and Western sanctions and disruptions are already hiking costs across the continent. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP) (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images)
Nigeria’s fragile power sector suffered another major setback on Wednesday as the national electricity grid collapsed, leaving most parts of the country in blackout.
The grid, known for frequent collapse crashed from 4,500 megawatts to 120MW.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed the outage in a public notice, citing a total loss of supply from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) at 11:23 a.m.
“Please be informed that the power outage currently being experienced is due to a loss of supply from the national grid… affecting electricity supply across our franchise areas,” AEDC stated.
The utility assured customers that efforts were underway with relevant stakeholders to restore supply once the grid stabilises.
Real-time data from the National System Operator (NSO) seen at 1:10 p.m. showed that only 120 megawatts (MW) were available on the grid — a fraction of Nigeria’s installed capacity of over 12,000 MW and far below the 4,000–5,000 MW typically distributed on a normal day.
The limited power was shared among just four distribution companies (DisCos). Ibadan Disco currently has about 50 MW, followed by Enugu Disco with 40 MW. Abuja Disco, at the time of writing this report has 20 MW, while Benin Disco has 10 MW.
The remaining seven DisCos, including Ikeja, Eko, Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Port Harcourt and Yola, were left with zero allocation, meaning no power supply to their franchise areas.
This latest system collapse adds to a long list of grid failures that have plagued Africa’s largest economy.
A cleric, Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has raised alarm after another child was reportedly abandoned at his residence on April 23, 2026.
According to him, the incident occurred earlier in the day when the young boy was discovered at his gate. He stated that he has immediately notified the police and is making arrangements to hand the child over to the appropriate authorities.
The cleric explained that he is unable to take in new children at the moment due to ongoing registration processes with the Ministry of Social Welfare. He stressed that accepting the child would violate existing legal requirements guiding child care and protection.
He further disclosed that his facility is already accommodating over 500 children, making it necessary to strictly adhere to regulations before admitting more.
Chinyere also expressed appreciation to the Federation of International Women Lawyers and the Ministry of Social Welfare for educating him on proper legal procedures.
He reiterated that the child would be transferred to the custody of the Ministry, emphasizing that compliance with the law remains his top priority.
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.”
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.”
..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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The four- count charge levelled against them read:
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“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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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“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
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The court subsequently struck out the charge and ordered that the defendants must not be re-arrested on the strength of the same complaint.
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The trial Magistrate also granted the application for N1m cost against the complainant to be paid to the defendants.
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