
FEATURES
The Lagos State command of the Nigeria Police Force has uncovered a baby factory in the Ijegun region of the state, leading to the rescue of ten individuals.
Three individuals have been apprehended in connection with the operation, as disclosed in a statement issued by the spokesperson for the command, Benjamin Hundeyin.
According to Hundeyin, the illegal operation was brought to light following a tip-off received by the police last Saturday.
In response, officers promptly arrived at the site and arrested the primary suspect, Mariam Vincent, 35, along with two accomplices, Orie Ruth, 23, and Ujunwa Ifeanyi, 18.
Naija News understands that during the raid, law enforcement officials rescued several victims, including three children aged seven, five, and two.
In total, the operation resulted in the rescue of seven adult women and three children.
The adult victims include Precious (24), Magdalene (25), Adaobi (23), Princess (22), Ifeanyi (25), and Amaka (26).
The rescued children are identified as Destiny (7), Miracle (5), and Success (2).
All individuals rescued are currently receiving appropriate care and support.
Hundeyin stated that the suspects confessed during interrogation to having kidnapped the victims from various locations within the state to operate the baby factory.
He further noted that the investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged in court.
While giving updates on police efforts over the past two weeks, Hundeyin said, “A total of 39 suspects who engaged in various crimes, including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, child stealing, vandalism, illegal operation of a baby factory, illegal possession of firearms, and illicit drugs were arrested.”
In a separate incident, law enforcement successfully freed two individuals who had been kidnapped in the Igbe Alagemo area of Ijede, Ikorodu.
The abduction occurred during a nighttime raid on the community on March 26, 2025.
According to police reports, the victims were safely recovered on March 29, thanks to a collaborative effort involving local teams and security personnel.
A distress signal was received around 9 p.m. on the evening of the incident.
Hundeyin detailed that armed kidnappers stormed the peaceful neighborhood, forcibly entering the home of a 40-year-old man named Dare. The assailants tragically shot and killed his guard dog before taking him hostage.
“Not stopping there, the kidnappers proceeded to a neighbouring house, where they seized a second victim, 25-year-old Rodiat, under similarly violent circumstances,” the police spokesperson said, adding that the force and other security teams worked non-stop for three days before rescuing the victims at about 11:56 p.m. on March 29.
“The victims were immediately reunited with their families, and the area is now relatively calm.
“Surveillance continues, and an investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the crime,” Hundeyin added.
Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj has been named the greatest female rapper of all time by Billboard.
The list of the Best Female Rappers of All Time, released by Billboard staff, also featured hip-hop greats such as Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, and Queen Latifah.
Surprisingly, Nicki Minaj’s rivals, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, ranked outside the top 10.
Minaj topped the list, followed by Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Lil’ Kim, and Queen Latifah at numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
MC Lyte, Salt-N-Pepa, Roxanne Shanté, Eve, and Foxy Brown completed the top 10.
Cardi B was ranked at number 11, while Megan Thee Stallion came in at number 15.
Despite being widely regarded as the greatest female rapper in history by many music enthusiasts, Nicki Minaj has yet to win a Grammy.
Her rivals, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, have both won Grammys in rap categories.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is aware of what could end his reign and is actively taking significant steps to tackle the issue, as stated by the All Progressives Congress (APC’s) Director of Media and Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, in a recent interview.
Ibrahim expressed confidence that the president will secure victory in the 2027 presidential election, despite concerns regarding insecurity.
He highlighted that, in contrast to former President Goodluck Jonathan, whose tenure was marked by rising violence leading up to the 2015 elections, Tinubu is already enacting strategies to mitigate security challenges.
The APC chieftain affirmed that the party recognizes the existing security threats and is committed to ensuring they do not influence the results of the upcoming election.
“If that was what was responsible for the downfall of Jonathan, I can tell you Jonathan was defeated by the APC, and the APC cannot blindfold itself and allow itself to defeat itself,” Ibrahim told THISDAY on Monday, April 7.
“President Bola Tinubu is already aware of the kind of problem that could lead to defeat, and he will not allow it.”
Ibrahim pointed to the deployment of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to the North-West and the continued efforts of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as evidence of the administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity.
“In a nutshell, the President will not allow himself to be defeated by himself.
“He’s taking measures to ensure that results are obtained… and he’s assuring Nigerians that the safety of the country is at the forefront of his agenda,” Ibrahim stated.
He also linked the recent spike in insecurity to geopolitical tensions with Nigeria’s Francophone neighbors, arguing that these diplomatic rifts have weakened regional security cooperation.
“Nigeria is literally left alone to fight this war without the collaborative effort of its neighbors,” he explained.
Meanwhile, a Labour Party (LP) senator representing Edo South senatorial district in the national assembly, Neda Imasuen, has advised northern politicians to shield their presidential ambition till 2031.
Naija News reports that the lawmaker, while speaking during a chat with newsmen in Benin City, stated that the advice has become necessary following the unwritten constitution that zoned the position of the presidency between the North and South.
The Federal Government has barred heads of tertiary institutions in an acting capacity from contesting to fill the same position.
Naija News reports that the new policy bars acting Vice Chancellors (VCs) of universities, Rectors of polytechnics and Provosts of colleges from joining in the contest for substantive heads of the institutions.
In a statement on Monday, signed by Boriowo Folasade, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, noted that acting VCs, Rectors, and Provosts, in most cases, take advantage of the selection process, thereby compromising fairness and transparency.
Alausa stated that acting VCs, Rectors and Provosts intending to contest the position must resign from their acting capacity within six months to qualify.
He added that the Ministry was committed to entrenching transparency in the tertiary education system to enhance quality education.
It read: “In line with the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Education to promote equity, transparency, and integrity in the appointment process of Federal Tertiary Institutions, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has approved the implementation of a guiding policy on eligibility for the appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts.
“This policy has become necessary following a pattern of undue advantage observed over the years, where officers serving in acting capacities often leverage their positions to influence appointment outcomes, thereby compromising the fairness and transparency of the selection process.
“To eliminate this practice, ensure a level playing field for all qualified candidates, and strengthen institutional governance, the policy stipulates that any officer serving in an acting capacity as Vice Chancellor, Rector, or Provost shall not be eligible to apply for the substantive position while still holding the acting appointment. However, in the interest of fairness, such officers may choose to recuse themselves from their acting positions before the expiration of their non-renewable six-month tenure, thereby becoming eligible to apply for the substantive roles.
This policy is designed to complement the existing Federal Ministry of Education Guidelines for the Appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts (2013), along with all other extant regulations governing appointments in federal tertiary institutions.
“Governing Councils, Managements, and relevant stakeholders are hereby requested to ensure strict compliance with the new directive.
“The Ministry appreciates the continued dedication and cooperation of stakeholders in upholding good governance and maintaining the integrity of leadership appointment processes within the education sector. It is our belief that this policy will bring about the desired reforms and enhance public confidence in the selection of principal officers in our institutions.”
Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested one Olawole Sunday, a suspected fraudster who specialised in buying bank account details from individuals to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
Sunday’s modus operandi involved encouraging young people to open multiple bank accounts, paying them either N25,000 or N50,000 for each account, and collect their bank details including Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.
Sunday allegedly employed the account details of one Uyi Godstime Eghosa to defraud a petitioner of the sum of N2 million under the guise of trading in forex.
The account owner, Eghosa was arrested and his disclosure that he was unaware that his account was used to defraud members of the public, led to Sunday’s arrest.
Eghosa explained that he relinquished his account details, including his ATM card, to Sunday after an N25,000 payment to him.
Sunday confessed to the crime and would be charged in court as soon as investigations are completed.
Boko Haram Launching Attacks And Kidnapping People Almost On Daily Basis In Borno State – Gov. Zulum Cries Out
AFOLABIGovernor Babagana Zulum has called for reinforced interventions in the war against Boko Haram and other insurgents in Borno State.
He lamented that Boko Haram now attacks and kidnaps people in many communities in Borno State almost on a daily basis without any confrontation from security forces.
Naija News reports Governor Zulum made the observation on Tuesday during Special Expanded Security Meeting (ESM) in Maiduguri, the state capital.
The meeting was attended by the General Officer Commanding 7 Div, Major General Abubakar Haruna, Sector Commanders, Commissioner of Police, heads of other security agencies, Shehu of Borno, Alh. Dr. Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, Shehu of Bama, Emirs of Biu, Uba, Askira, Gwoza, while Shehu of Dikwa- and Emir of Shani were in absencia.
Zulum lamented that recent developments point to the fact that Borno State is losing ground in the fight against insurgency.
The Governor submitted that his administration has been very supportive of the military in the fight against Boko Haram and other terrorists leading to relative peace in the last three years, but the recent attacks and dislodgement of military formations in Wajirko, Sabon Gari in Damboa local government, Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala, Izge in Gwoza local government areas among other related killing of innocent civilians and security agencies calls for serious concern and a set back in the fragile state of Borno and the North East region.
He however commended the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies for their unwavering support in the fight against Boko Haram but stressed the need to strengthen efforts by equipping and deploying technological warfare to the military to stem the tide of all renewed attacks bedevilling parts of the sahelian Borno which shares international border with three African countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
His words: “As I address this important gathering today, it is unfortunate that the renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities almost on daily basis without confrontation signaled that Borno State is loosing ground.
” As you are all aware that my administration has been very supportive to the military and other security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram and other terrorists leading to a relative peace in the last three years, it is disheartening to note the recent attacks and dislodgement of military formations in Wajirko, Sabon Gari in Damboa local government, Wulgo in Gamboru Ngala, Izge in Gwoza local government areas among other related killing of innocent civilians and security agencies calls for serious concern, and it is a set back in the fragile state of Borno and the North East region.
” In as much as Borno Government under my leadership commend the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies for their unwavering support in the fight against Boko Haram, more efforts have to be put in place through equipping and deploying of technological warfare to the military to stem the tide of all renewed attacks bedevilling parts of the sahelian Borno which shares international border with three African countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon,” Zulum stated.
Boko Haram In Control Of Three LGAs
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers at the meeting, the Shehu of Borno, commended the efforts of security agencies in the fight against terrorism, but emphasized that about three local government areas of Guzamala, Marte, Abbadam and some parts of Mobbar are still under the total control of Boko Haram, stressing that, most of these communities are without civil authority.
He appealed to the federal government to reconstruct the dilapidated and deplorable Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri, Maiduguri- Dikwa- Ngala, Maiduguri- Monguno-Kukawa and Biu -Damaturu federal roads among others.
Veteran Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s administration, stating it is filled with empty promises.
Naija News reports that Abdulkareem, in a new song titled ‘Tell Your Papa,’ urged the son of the president, Seyi Tinubu, to present the plight of Nigerians to his father.
Recall that Seyi Tinubu, while addressing a gathering of youths in Adamawa State in March, described his father as the greatest president in Nigeria’s history, which sparked controversy online.
However, in his new song, Abdulkareem slammed Seyi, stressing that the president’s son was insensitive to the plight of Nigerians from economic hardship and insecurity.
The singer said Seyi should inform his father about the spate of kidnappings in Nigeria and numerous deaths over the current economic policies.
He said, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga.
“Seyi, how far? I swear your papa no try. Too much empty promises. On behalf of Nigerians, take our message to him; kidnappers dey kill Nigerians.
“Seyi, try travelling by road without your security make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem.”
The cryptocurrency market has experienced a notable rebound, with Ethereum (ETH) rallying back to around $1,550 on Tuesday, marking about a 10% gain within the past 24 hours.
This surge follows a dramatic decline to a two-year low of $1,410 earlier in the week, during which ETH suffered a staggering 27% crash in just 48 hours.
The rebound offers a much-needed reprieve for investors who bore the brunt of significant liquidations and losses during the turbulent period.
Ethereum’s latest price recovery comes amid intensified activity in derivatives markets, which were shaken by the rapid price drop.
Liquidation in the past two days
According to data from Coinglass, approximately $370 million worth of leveraged ETH futures were liquidated over just two days, a testament to the scale of the downturn.
Santiment statistics further revealed that the sell-off was driven by short-term holders, who collectively endured losses amounting to $500 million on Monday alone.
The volatility in Ethereum’s performance has raised concerns about the resilience of the cryptocurrency, but analysts are cautiously optimistic about the possibility of further stabilization as market conditions improve.
Bitcoin rallies back from $75,000
Bitcoin briefly dipped below $75,000, only to rally back to approximately $80,000 late Monday, igniting a wave of recovery across major cryptocurrencies such as XRP (XRP-USD), Dogecoin (DOGE-USD), BNB (BNB-USD), and Cardano’s ADA (ADA-USD).
These tokens saw gains of up to 10%, helping the total crypto market capitalization return to levels not witnessed since early November.
The recovery was largely technical, as Monday’s market shakeout resulted in the liquidation of over $1.3 billion in crypto futures—predominantly affecting long positions. This purge of overleveraged traders cleared the way for a more stable rebound.
What you should know
- Despite its recovery, Bitcoin’s claim to be a “digital gold” continues to face skepticism. Unlike traditional safe-haven assets like gold, which typically appreciate during periods of market turbulence, Bitcoin has shown a tendency to trade in tandem with high-risk technology stocks.
- During last week’s equity sell-off, Bitcoin dropped alongside the S&P 500, further challenging its reliability as a refuge during financial chaos.
- These concerns are seen by findings from a peer-reviewed study published in ScienceDirect, which revealed that Bitcoin failed to act as a safe haven during the 2020 COVID crash. Instead, it mirrored equity movements, highlighting its vulnerability to broader market trends.
- Positively, Ethereum’s network architecture keeps proving to be robust. On April 6, the Ethereum network’s overall value locked (TVL) peaked at 30.2 million ETH, a 22% rise over last month.
Over the same period, this rise exceeded rivals such as Solana (12% increase) and BNB Chain (16% increase).
[Nairametrics]
Abure: ‘Labour Party Not A Ponzi Scheme’ – LP Reps Reveals Only Method To Remove Ogene As Caucus Leader
AdminThe House of Representatives Labour Party Caucus has dismissed as “laughable, naive, and misleading” the reported appointment of a new caucus leader by the embattled former national chairman of the party, Julius Abure.
This response follows an earlier statement from the caucus, which welcomed the Supreme Court judgment from last Friday and expressed readiness to work for the party’s internal peace and progress under the leadership of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC), headed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman.
In a subsequent move, Abure announced the “sacking” of Afam Ogene as the caucus leader.
Reacting in a statement released on Tuesday, the Labour Party Reps emphasized that the position of caucus leader is not an office to be appointed; rather, the leader is elected by peers based on their leadership qualities and their capacity to represent the party and the people.
“On May 6, 2023, a 35-member Labour Party caucus in the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives elected Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as its Leader. Ogene, a ranking member from the 7th Assembly, emerged as the Labour Party leader with 21 votes, after a keenly contested election,” the statement explained.
“Although 34 Members-Elect of the Party were present at the voting session, only 31 of them participated in the exercise, with the trio of Honourables Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, Obi Aguocha, and Professor Lilian Oby Orogbu abstaining, as they were responsible for conducting the exercise. So, only the members of the caucus who overwhelmingly elected him have the right to remove him as leader, not ‘an authoritarian power-thirsty individual who is still battling, without much success, to extricate himself from the muddy waters of multiple allegations of malfeasance,’” the statement, signed by Hon. Ogene, read.
The statement further remarked, “If Abure’s latest ill-advised tactics stem from the Caucus’ support for the Supreme Court judgment, which declared that Abure’s tenure had long expired, he is mistaken. This remains the majority stance of LP House of Representatives members, which will be reinforced on Wednesday, April 9, during the NEC/Stakeholders meeting convened by the Party’s National Leader, Mr. Peter Obi, and Governor Alex Otti.”
The caucus also took a strong stance against Abure’s leadership style, declaring, “We need to let Abure know, and boldly too, that the Labour Party is a credible organization, not a ponzi scheme, because sadly, everything about his leadership style revolves around forgery, money, and more money. From Ebonyi to Plateau, Ondo, Edo (where he embarrassed the party through his undignified episodes with the police), it’s all about slush funds and compromising the integrity of the office of the party’s national chairman. Even in Anambra last week, the mention of Abure’s name continues to emit a putrid smell of financial malfeasance.”
The caucus also challenged Abure to address ongoing controversies surrounding his leadership, stating, “He may wish to tell Nigerians and the world what is at the center of his feud with Eze Oko Splendour of Ebonyi State, Kenneth Imasuagbon in Edo, and the aspirants involved in last weekend’s Anambra LP gubernatorial farce.”
Highlighting Abure’s lack of accountability, the statement criticized him for failing to account for party finances from the 2023 general elections, despite raising significant funds from the sale of forms and off-season elections.
“It is appalling that a man who has yet to account for Party finances arising from the 2023 general elections, nor leaves any penny in the party’s account – despite raising hundreds of millions of naira – would be so engrossed in wanting to access funds belonging to the House of Representatives Caucus,” the statement read.
It concluded, “No sane organ of the party would entrust funds to the Supreme Court-sacked former national chairman, at least, not until he is able to cleanse himself of the twin evils of allegations of forgery and pilfering party funds levied against him by former national treasurer of the LP, Oluchi Oparah. Funds belonging to the caucus are intact and will only be deployed in a manner prescribed by members, not by the former chairman’s discretion.”
The Labour Party, the statement affirmed, deserves a fresh start with leadership that party faithful can proudly stand behind.
[NaijaNews]
Senator representing Borno South at the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has slammed President Bola Tinubu over his political appointments since assumption of office.
Tinubu has come under attacks from some sections in the country as he is being accused of favouring the South West where he hails from, particularly with his appointments.
Speaking on Arise TV, Ndume described Tinubu’s appointments as violations of the constitutional provision for federal character.
He added that the appointments have not reflected the diversity mandated by section 14(3) of the 1999 constitution.
According to him, “The figures are there. It’s not that I’m just making accusations or that the president has no right to do that kind of thing.
“But it’s a constitutional provision. Section section 14 (3) of the constitution is very, very clear on that. When you look at it vis-a-vis the appointments made so far, and there are political appointments. And it is because of avoiding such infractions that the constitution clearly states that appointments, especially political appointments should reflect the federal character, and that is not the case here”, he stated.
He said he was only calling the attention of Mr President to such “infractions” for him to correct it so that it will not “boomerang at a certain period of time.”
Ndume, a ranking senator, insisted that his remarks were not an attack on the president but a constitutional responsibility.
“I know, as you rightly say, people look at me as somebody that is critical of the government. I have the right to do that in the first place. And in fact, that’s why I’m in the national assembly in the first place”.
“Collectively, we are supposed to oversight the acts of Mr President and point out some of these irregularities. That is what we swore to do. It’s not personal”, he submitted.
He stated that he is not scared of being attacked for his latest take on the Tinubu administration.
“Each one of us will stand before God and God will ask him to account for what he is responsible for. Besides, we are all in this government. What will we tell our people? When you have these figures out, it is already viral, it is already in circulation.
“But you know what, after this interview, those attack dogs or maga-dogs will start attacking Ndume, not the message”.
He said his position is “not about Ndume or me being a senator. As a Nigerian, I have the right to voice out all these things. Not only that, I have the right to even protest. I have the right. That is guaranteed by the constitution.
“But from tomorrow, those so-called Tinubu boys or people will start attacking Ndume. These are the facts”, he added.
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There have been changes in expected climatic or weather conditions all over the world in recent years due to global warming and this has had great impact on human health, other animals and the environment. The entire world is experiencing an upsurge in atmospheric temperature and of course its impact. Everyone is talking about climate change but it did not just occur suddenly. Human activities created this monster and now the entire world is grasping under the weight of the impacts this phenomenon has brought.
Mankind has always been a problem to its own existence through its activities. The human (anthropological) activities that reportedly brought about global warming and consequently its twin climate change include use of fossil fuel, deforestation, bush burning etc.
For years, it has been postulated that human activities have the ability to change the climatic conditions of a region. The link with human and environmental health was however not well defined.
Global Warming: How It Started
Swedish scientist, Svante Arrhenius was the first person to give quantitative prediction of global warming as a result of increasing atmospheric carbon-dioxide in 1896.
Eunice Foote has earlier in 1856 theorized about the idea that the warming effect of the sun increased with the presence of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
However, Guy Callendar was the first scientist to link global warming with human activities in 1938. The industrial revolution between the 1700s and 1800s is attributed to be responsible for the beginning of global warming.
In 1712, British Engineer, Thomas Newcomen, invented the steam engine which paved the way for the large scale use of coal (fossil fuel) in industries. The black gold (crude oil) was later discovered and this revolutionized industrial developments. The drawback is that combustion of these fossil fuels involves emission of atmospheric pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides etc. These were later called greenhouse gases (GHG)
Climate scientists observed that the earth’s surface temperature increased by 1°C during the industrial revolution of the 1700s and 1800s.
Burning of fossil for energy production results in release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun on the earth’s surface leading to gradual increase of the Earth’s temperature.
The growing concern over the consequences of change in Earth’s climatic conditions and global warming resulted in the formation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988. This led to the first United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992 and since then a Conference of Parties (COP) on global warming and climate change has been held annually.
Impact of Global Warming
Everything on planet earth is affected by global warming.
• There have been severe heat-waves causing heat-strokes in man and animals. Heatstroke is presented by heavy sweating, exhaustion, dizziness and unconsciousness.
• Changes in precipitation patterns resulting in droughts, floods, storms in different regions of the world.
• Rise in sea level leading to erosion, loss of coastal land and loss of biodiversity.
• Reduced agricultural productivity which impacts global food security and ultimately increased food prices and famine.
• Global warming and its twin climate change resulted in loss of habitat/shelter for both humans and animals, disruption of the ecosystem.
Crude oil is the major culprit responsible for global warming through the emission of greenhouse gases during combustion and energy generation.
According to the Intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC), there is a need to cut emission of greenhouse gases by 43% to limit temperature rise to 1.5oC and avoid the worst impacts of climate change still to come. Truly, the world is in need of climate change solution more than ever before.
[TheNation]
The suspended Senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has instituted a N5billion defamation case against her colleague, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi for alleging that she had six children for different men.
In the process she filed through her team of lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. M. J. Numa, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan described Nwaebonyi’s claim as false, saying it was a deliberate attempt to tarnish her reputation.
She told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, that Nwaebonyi who represents Ebonyi North Central Senatorial District, had severely injured her reputation, caused her considerable distress and embarrassment to her credibility and public perception.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan told the court that the defendant, who is also the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, had on March 6, 2025, during a televised interview on Channels TV’s “Sunrise Daily” programme, falsely, maliciously, and without any lawful justification, referred to her as a “gold digger,” a “habitual liar,” and a “habitual blackmailer.”
She told the court that aside from the allegation that she had six children for different men, Senator Nwaebonyi equally alleged that her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her under duress.
“These statements were broadcast nationally and rebroadcast across multiple online and social media platforms, thus ensuring wide publication,” the claimant added, insisting the claims were false, malicious and targeted at bringing her image to disrepute.
“The claimant further contends that these statements in their natural and ordinary meaning, are meant and were understood to portray the claimant: as someone who constantly extorts people for money through dishonest and unscrupulous means as a career.
“As someone who demands money or other benefits from someone in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them. As a woman who forms relationships with men purely to obtain money or gifts from them.
“As someone who constantly tells lies and does not speak the truth on most occasions and as someone who uses the threat of damaging information to coerce others into acting in her favour.”
The claimant told the court that the defendant deliberately made the defamatory statements knowing same to be false as it was meant to discredit her, in an attempt to justify her illegal suspension by the Senate.
“That the defendant, who is equally a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, made those false and reckless statements to prejudice the mind of the public against the claimant’s petition before the Senate.”
Consequently, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on a six-month suspension, among other things, prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendant, his associates, agents, assignees, servants, privies, proxies, allies or anyone howsoever called from further publishing or causing to be published the words complained about or any other defamatory words concerning the claimant.
In the suit marked: CV/1259/25, she further prayed for an order of the court, to compel the defendant to retract the defamatory words on the same platforms used to make the defamatory publications and to tender an unreserved apology in at least two national newspapers electronically and vide print media circulated nationwide, within 7 days from the day of the delivery of judgment in the matter.
She also urged the court to award “the sum of N5 billion only, against the defendant being aggravated and exemplary damages in favour of the Claimant for the false, malicious and injurious statements that have since caused the Ccaimant considerable distress, reputational harm, embarrassment, and emotional distress.”
As well as: “An order of this Honourable Court awarding post-judgment interest on the judgment sum awarded to the Claimant at the rate of 10% per annum from the date of delivery of the judgment until the judgment debt is fully liquidated.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that her characterization by the defendant as a mother of six from different men was baseless, malicious, and indeed reckless.
“The claimant is an inspiration to women in politics and aspiring women for speaking truth to power.
“The claimant is not spoiling the chance of women in politics as falsely alleged, rather she is inspiring women to be bold in their quest for politics and good governance,” she added.
Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the matter to be heard.
[Vanguard]
Ali Baba, the ace comedian, has revealed political strategies he claims were shared with him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on how to become Nigeria’s president.
In an interview on Outside The Box, the 59-year-old entertainer said Obasanjo allegedly shared the strategies with him via chat because he thought he was venturing into politics and wanted to guide him.
Ali Baba claimed that Obasanjo emphasised the importance of gaining the support of seven governors, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, to clinch the presidential seat.
“I was speaking with Obasanjo one time, and he listed some things that are necessary in politics,” the comedian said while picking up his phone to show proof that he documented his conversation with the former president.
“He thought I was going into politics, so he was happy I was talking to him about politics. He said ‘Ali, I’m happy you are catching up with politics, but you still have a lot to learn about how governors and presidents are selected’.
“He said ‘you need seven governors to win an election. Lagos, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Kano, Kaduna and the CBN governor’. Then I said ‘Kano and Kaduna don’t have money,’ he said ‘that is for the numbers’…
“You need 44 of the most popular senatorial districts.”
The comedian, born Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, also alleged that Obasanjo mentioned the key tasks to be accomplished in the first term to increase the chances of being re-elected.
“You need to have awarded 10 contracts and 15% of that contract can give you a marginal impact at the polls. And you must award this contract in your first year of assumption of office,” he said.
“If you don’t do that, then, you can’t ask the people for anything because when you give them at the first year of your getting into office, when it’s time for elections you just tell them ‘Do you want to continue this contract or not’.”
Ali said Obasanjo emphasised the importance of making strategic appointments, including “the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), controller-general of customs, head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), inspector-general of police (IGP), and CBN governor”.
The comedian said Obasanjo allegedly advised on steering clear of corrupt governors who are “loaded” and can be “financially useful when needed”.
“He said you must name your CJN, IGP, controller general of customs, head of the NNPC, CBN governor, and you must suspend pending cases of corrupt past governors who are loaded,” he added.
“Don’t forget that those guys have war chests that they are just sitting and waiting for who they want to align with. No matter how much EFCC milks from them, they still have plenty.
“These are people who were sitting on a monthly federal allocation. Don’t forget that some states that when they get their federal allocation, they don’t touch it.
“They actually add to it because their state’s internally generated revenue is higher than what the federal government gives to them.
“So if the federal government gives them N3, they can add N4 to it and spend N7. When they leave office, EFCC can’t come looking for them because they added money to what the federal government gave them, but you see that internally generated revenue that is their sweat as it is called, it is their money, they generated it themselves. They can determine what they want to do with it.”
Ali Baba alleged that Obasanjo highlighted the importance of securing support from key figures, including foreign countries, the wealthy, religious leaders, and bloggers.
According to him, “he also advised infiltrating opposition parties and strategically influencing delegates by offering incentives to ensure loyalty during elections”.
“This is the meaty part of it, he says ‘Get US or China support because of their businesses in your country, they would support,” he said.
“Get National Association of Nigerian Students, market women, National Union of Road Transport Workers. Unsettle the organized labour. Get 10 of the richest Nigerians on your side. Infiltrate your opposition party and let them decamp for elections.
“So let me explain. You have your party and I want to infiltrate the party. I will send my people to leave my own party and join your own party before the elections. So when the time of election comes, they will then disrupt the whole thing.
“They will probably be the ones they will put in charge of electioneering campaign and you won’t know that the reason they decamped was to make sure that your own campaign doesn’t succeed. So when you are planning, they inform their original party.
“Obasanjo continued saying infiltrate the opposition party, but delegates one year before your congress.
“So I asked how do you buy delegates then he said “you know who and who that would be selected as delegates, give two of his daughters job in the bank, give another’s wife a shop, sponsor another’s trip to Hajj so when the time for election comes and you say this is the person I’m supporting, they won’t mess up because of what you have done.
“While some people are trying to raise money to give dollars, you already have bought their loyalty since. Have a hand in appointing all parties’ chairmen.
“Secure INEC and state rec, blogs, social media, religious leaders, royal fathers, appointment of board of chairman and DGs. Get four constitutional lawyers on retainship.”
[TheCable]
‘I’m Not Part Of Those Playing Chess With The Destiny Of Nigerians’ – Sowore Criticizes Atiku, El-Rufai, Peter Obi Coalition
AFOLABIThe 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has rubbished the intending coalition of former presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, and the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.
Recalls that Atiku, during a press conference by Concerned Leaders and Political Stakeholders in Nigeria, announced plans to form a coalition with the aim of removing President Bola Tinubu from power in 2027.
Sowore, in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, vowed never to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
When asked if he would join Atiku and Peter Obi in forming a coalition, Sowore said he would not be part of those playing chess with the destiny of Nigeria and will only join the coalition of the oppressed.
He said: “I’m not joining any coalition, the coalition that they joined in 2013 and 2015 is what brought about the APC, so joining another coalition in 2025 is doing the same thing all over again without thinking of achieving the same set of results.
“The coalition that needs to be built is that of the oppressed, joining another coalition that is made up of the same people who were the ones that created the coalition that ruined Nigeria, it’s an injustice and an injury to the people of Nigeria.
“So you can never see me in their coalition and I will never be part of it, I’m not joining the SDP, I’m not part of those playing chess with the destiny of Nigerians.”