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Kogi court orders Senator Natasha to pay N1 Billion to Bello for defamation

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Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan sworn in as Kogi Central Senator
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
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A High Court in Lokoja has awarded N1billion in damages against Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a defamation suit filed by former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello.

The order is contained in the Certified True Copy of the judgement, dated April 23 on Friday in Lokoja.

The court held that based on the preponderance of evidence or balance of probabilities, judgment was entered in favour of the claimant.

Justice Justice A. S. Ibrahim, while delivering his judgement in the suit marked, “HCL/16/2023”, held that upon the conclusion of the suit, the two issues formulated for determination were resolved in favour of the claimant.

“The interview granted by the defendant on 4/11/2022 on Arise TV programme of ‘The Morning Show’ is defamatory to the claimant’s character and reputation.

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“The said interview of 4/11/2022 in which the defendant described the claimant as a murderer, killer, perpetrator of evil acts, and a terror to the people of Kogi State was without justification.”

The court also gave “an order of perpetual injunction against the Defendant, [his] agents, privies or associates”, restraining them from further issuance of the defamatory statements or words against the claimant on TV or radio stations.

“The sum of one billion naira (N1,000,000,000) only (is) awarded as damages against the Defendant and in favour of the Claimant,” the court said.

Bello had sued Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan for defamation of character.

The Defendant’s Counsel, Johnson J. Usman, SAN, had, challenged the jurisdiction of the court, saying that the suit was an abuse of court process.

Bello’s Counsel, Friday Ekpa, however, countered that, saying that none of the cases before the FCT High Court was against the person of Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

After the High Court ruled that it had jurisdiction to entertain the case, Akpoti-Uduaghan appealed the ruling.

The Court of Appeal, in the appeal number, “CA/ABJ/CV/626/2024”, however, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit and affirmed that the Kogi State High Court had jurisdiction to entertain the case.

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NUC approves AI, Cyber Security, Three Other Undergraduate Programmes for ESUT

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The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the establishment of five new full-time undergraduate programmes at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), effective from the 2026/2027 academic session.

The approval followed a resource verification exercise conducted by a panel of experts that assess the adequacy of the university’s human and material resources for the proposed programmes.

In a letter signed by the Director of Academic Planning, Abubakar M. Girei, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the NUC, the Commission approved the introduction of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Intelligence and Security Studies, Data Science, and Software Engineering.

The Commission, however, clarified that the approval is limited to the full-time mode of study and does not extend to part-time delivery at this stage.

It added that the university must notify the Commission and obtain the requisite approval before introducing part-time or postgraduate components of any of the newly approved undergraduate programmes.

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The NUC further urged ESUT to continue providing adequate human and material resources to ensure the effective implementation, development, and sustainability of the programmes.

The approval comes at a time Governor Peter Mbah’s administration has consistently committed more than 33 per cent of Enugu State’s annual budget to education, with a strong emphasis on science, technology, innovation, and digital skills development to prepare young people for the demands of the future workforce.

Governor Mbah had earlier disclosed that his administration was redesigning the state’s education system to equip learners—from the primary school level to the university—with the capacity to develop technology-driven innovations, create globally competitive solutions, and participate effectively in the digital economy through curricula anchored on the Smart Green Schools initiative.

As part of realising the vision, the governor recently sponsored a high-level academic delegation led by the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, to Doha, Qatar, to understudy global best practices in artificial intelligence, applied learning, and innovation ecosystems, with a view to adapting and implementing the models at the university.

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Nigerian woman commits suicide two years after relocating to UK on skilled worker visa

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UK-based Nigerian, Beatrice Solomon, 27, was found dead in her home on Wednesday
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A United Kingdom UK-based Nigerian, Beatrice Solomon, 27, was found dead in her home on Wednesday.

A coroner in the United Kingdom ruled that a 27-year-old Nigerian woman, Beatrice Solomon, died by suicide after an inquest into her death.

Beatrice, a mother of one, was found unresponsive at her home on Norris Road in Stanfield by her husband, Damian Butler, on March 4.

According to evidence presented at the inquest, Butler, 40, had left for his delivery job at about 4:30 p.m. before returning home roughly two hours later to use the toilet, where he made the tragic discovery.

Police Constable Hinchliffe told the hearing that paramedics arrived shortly afterwards, but Beatrice was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:21 p.m. Officers also ruled out any third-party involvement.

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The inquest heard that Beatrice moved from Nigeria to Stoke-on-Trent in November 2023 on a skilled worker visa, where she worked as a carer. She is survived by her young son and siblings.

Giving evidence, Butler said Beatrice had struggled with her mental health over the previous 12 months due to ongoing issues involving Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

He also revealed that he later discovered she had made two previous attempts to take her own life.

Pathologist Dr Jones told the inquest that Beatrice died from oxygen deprivation.

Delivering her conclusion, Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor ruled that Beatrice died by suicide.

She said: “It is clear to me that Beatrice had researched and planned how to take her own life. I can only extend my sincere condolences to Beatrice’s family and friends.”

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Police arrest ‘PFIPC Director-General’, Adeyemi

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• My life is in danger – ‘Fake’ PFIPC DG’ Adeyemi claims

The “Director-General” of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, has been arrested by security operatives following a warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Adeyemi was picked up on Tuesday at his hideout in Osun State, shortly after Justice Mohammed Umar ordered his arrest over his failure to appear in court for his arraignment.

The Police PRO confirmed that he was arrested by a team of FID/IRT in Osun.

Details of the arrest remain sketchy as of press time, but sources said the suspect would be taken to the Police Headquarters in Abuja for further action.

The arrest followed a brief ruling by Justice Umar, who issued a bench warrant after Adeyemi failed to appear before the court despite several adjournments.

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Earlier in the proceedings, Adeyemi’s counsel, Genesis Francis, told the court that he could not convince his client to attend the hearing, citing concerns raised by the defendant.

The lawyer informed the court that Adeyemi had expressed fears for his safety in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, noting that the matter had generated significant public attention.

However, prosecuting counsel, Wisdom Madaki, argued that the case had suffered repeated delays due to the defendant’s absence.

Madaki urged the court to issue a warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest in line with Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Granting the request, Justice Umar held that the charges were filed on November 27, 2025, while proceedings commenced on December 4, 2025.

The judge noted that Adeyemi had appeared in court only once and had failed to attend subsequent proceedings.

He consequently ordered his arrest and adjourned the matter until September 30.

Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man accused of forging government appointment letters and parading himself as the PFIPC DG, had earlier expressed fears for his life saying he was  not in any way hiding from law enforcement agents.

While speaking on Channels TV on Monday night July 13, Adeyemi said

“I’m ready to show my face. I’m not hiding. I’m only fearing for my life because I have it on good authority that my life is in danger,” he said on the current affairs programme, alleging threats to his life. There have been several attempts on my life,” Adeyemi said.

Adeyemi also alleged that there had been multiple attempts on his life but did not disclose further details or identity of those allegedly behind the attacks.

“And I’m ready for that. There are several attempts to… my life,” he added.

Adeyemi’s remarks come as controversy continues to trail the purported PFIPC, which the Presidency has repeatedly described as a non-existent government agency.

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