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Former lawmaker, Shehu Sani has described as unfortunate the issue between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Sani said it is unfortunate the issue has become about “bed”.
The statement comes after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.
The Kogi born senator made the allegation on Friday while fielding questions on Arise Television Morning Show programme.
Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio blocked her motions from being heard on the floor of the red chamber because she rejected his advances.
However, Akpabio denied the allegation through his media consultant, Kenny Okulogbo.
Reacting to the development, Sani, in a post on his X handle on Friday called for caution and restraint.
“It’s unfortunate that the Senate issue was simply about seat and now about bed. Need for caution and restraint,” Sani said.
[DailyPost]
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Lasbat Mojisola Meranda, has dismissed claims by Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, that her security detail has been fully restored.
Speaking to journalists after a court hearing regarding a case filed by former Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa—which has been adjourned to March 7—Meranda clarified that she still lacks adequate security.
“I have my people with me and God is with me,” she stated. “At the moment, I have only three or four policemen, whereas my normal security detail includes 12 policemen, four DSS officers, and two anti-bomb experts. As of this morning, I still don’t have them.”
Addressing Obasa’s controversial presence at the Assembly the previous day, Meranda acknowledged his right to visit but condemned his actions. “He is still a member of the House, so he has every right to come. But invading and breaking into my office? That is a serious issue.”
She also criticized the plenary session conducted by Obasa, describing it as a “show of shame.” “In our job, we require a quorum. If you are sitting with just three or four members, that is nothing more than theatrics.”
On whether disciplinary action would be taken against Obasa, she remarked, “When we get to that bridge, we will cross it.”
Meanwhile, the Assembly premises remained heavily guarded by policemen, civil defense personnel, and supporters of Obasa.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede, disclosed that he turned down offers of about N500m from various individuals during his mother’s funeral in 2019.
Olukoyede spoke at the 38th Anti-Corruption Situation Room in Abuja on Thursday with the theme: Ethics, Integrity, Corruption Risk Assessments and Anti-Corruption at National and Sub-National levels: Sustaining the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
The programme was organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resource Centre, Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission, ICPC, and EFCC with the support of the MacArthur Foundation.
Olukoyede explained that the substantial gifts, which included cheques and drafts, were sent to him by ministers, permanent secretaries, directors, and other high-ranking officials.
At the time, Olukoyede was serving as the Secretary of the EFCC.
He recounted that upon his return to his family home in Ekiti State, where the funeral took place, he discovered numerous cheques in a carton.
After reviewing the cheques, which amounted to nearly N500m, he decided to return them.
The EFCC chairman narrated, “I lost my mother in the year 2019 (in Ekiti State). We went for the funeral. I was the secretary of the EFCC then. People came. So I went to my place a day before the funeral service. By the time I got to my small compound, which I built several years ago before I joined the EFCC, I saw about 17 cows in my compound, including pregnant ones.
“When I got home, my gate man presented a box (carton) to me and inside it, I saw so many cheques and drafts from ministers, permanent secretaries, directors, DGs of agencies, etc.
“And so, I went in and showed it to my wife. She said, ‘Praise God’. I said, ‘Praise God for what?’ By the time we put all the cheques together, it counted close to N500m.”
Reflecting on the situation, Olukoyede expressed concern about the potential consequences if he had deposited the cheques into his account, particularly given his role in investigating the individuals who had sent them.
He explained that had the cheques been found in his bank account, it could have been used against him during investigations and cast doubt on his integrity.
He emphasised the importance of maintaining ethical conduct and transparency, especially in his position at the EFCC.
“I did the burial in September 2019. By July 2020, I was under investigation. Now, assuming all those cheques were paid into my account as traditional gifts and some of the MDAs that we were investigating in the EFCC, some of their directors and their DGs and their ministers sent cheques to me.
“Ordiarily, I mean for burial, some gave me one million, N20m and all of that. Even though that would not have influenced my decision if I was in a position to determine what would happen to their investigations, how would I have explained before a panel that they saw cheques paid into my account?
“So, assuming they found those cheques paid into my account, would it have been a good defence for me to say it was my mother’s burial when they were looking for me to roast? For me, that is what you call integrity. When you go beyond a level of expectation.”
Olukoyede also shared an example of rejecting bids from family members for auctioneering services during his tenure as EFCC Secretary.
He explained how both his brother-in-law, an international auctioneer, and his elder brother sought to participate in a government auction of forfeited assets. Despite the personal connections, Olukoyede insisted on adhering to conflict-of-interest rules, rejecting their applications.
He said, “My chairman then, we agreed that we should select a committee. So, we selected an assets forfeiture committee of about six directors, including myself as the chairman of the committee and a few other staff.
“We advertised for auctioneers. So, they applied. We were able to shortlist about 11 of them. My brother-in-law happens to be an international auctioneer. He applied. His application came to me. I saw it and I shredded it. So, my PA who knew him, called him and told him what I did, and for six months, he did not talk to me. So we did the auction.
“One of my elder brothers called me. ‘I heard you are doing an auction. I needed a truck for my business. I said, ‘Sir, go and read what we published.’ Conflict of interest. No staff of EFCC or immediate members of the family is allowed. He said no, they would use another name. I knew they could do that. I told him that I was not interested.
“After about eight months down the line, they set up a panel to investigate activities of the EFCC. My chairman and I were placed on suspension. They began to investigate what we did in the office. They investigated the particular auction I did in Port Harcourt. Now, assuming they found the name of my brother-in-law as one of the auctioneers. What would have been the result? Probably I may be in jail by now,” Olukoyede said.
[Punch]
President Bola Tinubu has signed the 2025 Appropriation Bill of ₦54.99 trillion into law.
The signing ceremony took place on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in the presence of the leadership of the National Assembly and other senior government officials.
The budget was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly on Thursday, February 13, after lawmakers increased it from the initial ₦49.7 trillion submitted by the President.
The 2025 Appropriation Act represents a 99.96% increase from the 2024 budget of ₦27.5 trillion.
2025 Budget breakdown:
Total Expenditure: ₦54.99 trillion
Statutory Transfers: ₦3.65 trillion
Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure: ₦13.64 trillion
Capital Expenditure: ₦23.96 trillion
Debt Servicing: ₦14.32 trillion
Deficit-to-GDP Ratio: 1.52%
This budget marks a significant fiscal expansion, with increased allocations for capital projects and debt servicing.
[Vanguard]
Remember the last time you went on vacation? After locking the door and heading toward your car, you likely turned back abruptly to ensure the lock was secure before continuing your journey.
Financial markets, led by a range of human emotions, exhibit similar behaviors. After a convincing move beyond a long-held resistance, assets typically return to confirm the validity of the breakout. That serves as a test of the strength of the former resistance-turned-support, following which bigger rallies unfold.
The "breakout and retest play" phenomenon is well-known across asset classes. Bitcoin's (BTC) ongoing sell-off might be just that – a healthy retest of the breakout point or the former resistance-turned-support of $73,757 breached in November.
In other words, the downward momentum could run out of steam at or closer to these levels, potentially setting the stage for a bigger run higher.
BTC has dropped over 15% to under $80,000 this month, exposing the former resistance-turned-support at $73,757. Prices broke above that level in early November, ending months-long consolidation after pro-crypto Donald Trump won the U.S. Presidential election.
The tendency of markets to retrace or revisit the breakout point before staging more enormous rallies has its roots in the behavioral aspects of investing.
People are generally risk averse when it comes to securing gains. So, when facing profits, traders quickly book those instead of allowing the winning trade to run wild. The so-called prospect theory explains why post-breakout rallies abruptly run out of steam, often leading to a retest of the breakout point. BTC holders have been taking profits around the $100K mark since December.
Now, as prices turn lower and near the breakout point, in this case, $73,757, market participants who missed the initial rally jump in, ensuring the level holds. The resulting bounce from the former resistance-turned-support draws in more and more buyers, potentially yielding a bigger rally.
That's precisely what happened in the third quarter of 2023 and August-September 2020.
On both occasions, the breakout and retest produced bigger rallies to new record highs. Traders, however, need to note that a failed retest or a lack of a meaningful bounce indicates underlying weakness that can evolve into a full blown downtrend.
Over the years, I have seen numerous examples of retests of breakouts/breakdowns leading to bigger moves in traditional markets.
Consider the yield on the 10-year Japanese government bond. It triggered a double-bottom breakout in January 2024 and revisited the breakout level multiple times before rising to multi-year highs.
The AUD/USD pair dived out of a major support trendline in December, hinting at a deeper slide. The pair bounced to the trendline resistance early this month only to see sharp losses this week.
[CoinDesk]
2 Top Cryptocurrencies to Buy Before They Soar 120% and 190%, According to Certain Wall Street Experts
Admin
The overall cryptocurrency market has climbed 24% since the presidential election in November. Donald Trump embraced digital assets during his campaign and, while upward momentum has stalled in recent weeks, some Wall Street experts still anticipate big gains in XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) and Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC).
Dom Kwok, former Goldman Sachs employee and co-founder of blockchain education company EasyA, earlier this year said XRP had a good shot at replacing Ethereum as the second most valuable cryptocurrency. As of Feb. 27, Ethereum has a market value of $282 billion, while XRP has a market value of $128 billion. So, Kwok's prediction currently implies at least 120% upside in XRP.
Tom Lee, managing partner and head of research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, late last year said Bitcoin could exceed $250,000 in 2025 as spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and the incoming presidential administration help legitimize the cryptocurrency. As of Feb. 27, Bitcoin trades at $86,000, so his prediction implies 190% upside.
XRP: 120% implied upside
XRP is the native cryptocurrency on the Ripple blockchain, a platform built for cross-border payments and foreign currency exchanges. Most international payments are currently routed through the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) system, but the process often involves intermediaries that make transactions costly and time consuming.
Ripple designed what it believes is a better system. Its blockchain uses the XRP token as a bridge currency to enable faster, less expensive payments. While fewer than 200 financial institutions currently use the platform, adoption could increase when the lawsuit with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been completely resolved.
To elaborate, the SEC sued Ripple in 2020, alleging it sold XRP as an unregistered security. In August 2023, a U.S. district judge issued a split decision, ruling certain transactions were exempt but others should have complied with securities laws. The result was a $125 million fine for Ripple, far less than the $2 billion the SEC wanted. But the SEC has since appealed the decision.
Importantly, Ripple recently introduced a stablecoin called Ripple USD (RLUSD). Its value is tied to the U.S. dollar, providing enterprises with a less volatile means of transacting on the Ripple blockchain. However, the stablecoin should still boost demand for XRP because the native cryptocurrency will be used to pay fees on RLUSD transactions.
Finally, several asset managers have submitted applications to the SEC to create spot XRP ETFs. Those funds would offer XRP exposure without the hassle and high fees associated with cryptocurrency exchanges. Bitcoin has gained more than 80% since the SEC approved spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, and XRP could generate similar returns.
Here is the bottom line: I think XRP could double in 2025 but only if Ripple resolves its legal issues with the SEC and spot XRP ETFs win approval. Additionally, the Bank of Japan recently adopted XRP for cross-border payments, which should further legitimize its role in the financial system. Investors comfortable with risk and volatility should consider buying a very small position today.
Bitcoin: 190% implied upside
Bitcoin's market capitalization of $1.7 trillion make it the most valuable cryptocurrency by a wide margin. And it has become increasingly popular with retail investors and institutional investors since the SEC approved spot Bitcoin ETFs last year. Those funds attracted $37 billion in net inflows in 2024, and the iShares Bitcoin Trust from BlackRock was the most successful ETF launch in history, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, noted last year that institutional investors were adopting spot Bitcoin ETFs at "the fastest rate of any ETF in history." Indeed, recently filed Forms 13F indicate more than 1,100 asset managers held positions in the iShares Bitcoin Trust as of the fourth quarter, up from 600 in Q2.
That trend is particularly important because institutional investors have about $120 trillion in assets under management (AUM). Even a small fraction of that sum allocated to Bitcoin could drive its price much higher. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink recently said Bitcoin could hit $700,000 if more asset managers invested 2% to 5% of their AUM in the cryptocurrency.
Importantly, Tom Lee in November 2024 predicted Bitcoin could top $250,000 within 12 months. However, he also said the cryptocurrency may dip to $65,000 before soaring back toward $250,000. The first half of his forecast seems to be playing out in the market right now. Bitcoin earlier this year reached a record high of $109,000 but has since tumbled 21% to $86,000.
Here is the bottom line: I am skeptical about Bitcoin reaching $250,000 in 2025, but I do believe it will be worth more in the future. Patient investors comfortable with volatility and risk can buy a small position today. An allocation ranging from 2% to 5% of a portfolio is sensible.
[The Motley Fool ]
A rout in Bitcoin deepened on Friday as investors rushed to safe assets in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats, marking a dramatic reality check for one of the most popular Trump trades.
The cryptocurrency tumbled as much as 7.2% on Friday to the lowest since early November and is down some 27% since it hit an all-time high less than six weeks ago. The selloff came amid a broad plunge in cryptocurrencies, with Ether, Polkadot and XRP all dropping more than 7% on Friday.
“The last time we saw sentiment like this was 2022,” said Caroline Bowler, chief executive officer of BTC Markets Pty Ltd, referring to the “crypto winter” when prices plummeted amid rising interest rates and industry woes. “This tanking can be viewed as a response to macro fears on Trump’s tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty.”
Trump said Thursday that 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico would come into force from March 4, undermining hopes he might reverse course after a previous delay. He also said Chinese imports would face a further 10% levy, prompting officials in Beijing to promise “all necessary measures” in response.
The focus on trade tensions led to a broad risk-off decline across markets on Friday, pushing down almost all Asian stock markets and fueling declines in European futures. But cryptocurrencies — which are deeply exposed to shifts in risk appetite — were among the worst hit.
Bitcoin has now fallen more than 20% in February. If the decline holds through the end of Friday, it would mark the biggest monthly drop since June 2022.
Trump Trade Woes
The selloff underscores a swift change of fortunes for what was previously one of the most popular Trump trades in global markets: buying Bitcoin on the expectation that the president’s crypto-friendly approach would lead to a broad rally.
That worked for a while. Bitcoin hit its all-time high of $109,241 on Jan. 20, the day of Trump’s inauguration. But cryptocurrencies have recently come under pressure amid worries that Trump’s pugilistic approach to global trade could lead to broad pain.
“Given the macro environment, it’s not surprising to see we are where we are,” said Stefan von Haenisch, director of over-the-counter trading in Asia Pacific at crypto custody firm Bitgo Inc. Traders are still waiting for Trump to come up with concrete steps for the sector including a Bitcoin stockpile, he said.
What Bloomberg’s Strategists Say...
“The real panic may be ahead of us still. Bitcoin always has another 70%+ crash in its future, by construction. $72k-$74k would appear to be the technical crunch zone that might trigger the next crypto winter.“
— Mark Cudmore, MLIV Executive Editor
Read more here.
Investors are now being forced to consider quite how far the world’s biggest cryptocurrency can fall. There is support for the coin around $70,000, said Ruslan Lienkha, chief of markets at crypto platform YouHodler, pointing to technical analysis. But he said investors shouldn’t assume the rout in Bitcoin will get that bad. Bitcoin was down about 4.3% to $80,653 as of 6:52a.m. in New York.
“We will only see this level if negative sentiment dominates the equity markets,“ said Lienkha.
Bearish sentiment this week has also hit spot US Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, with investors pulling out more than $1 billion on Tuesday, the biggest one-day outflow since their debut last year.
Trump has already made a few changes that have pleased crypto bulls, including putting crypto advocates in key positions. The Securities and Exchange Commission, which embarked on a yearslong crackdown under former Chair Gary Gensler, has also closed investigations into several crypto outfits in recent weeks.
Trump has said he wants to make the US “the crypto capital of the planet and the Bitcoin superpower of the world.”
Read: Bitcoin’s Slide Has Traders Hedging Against a Drop to $70,000
(Updates pricing.)
[Bloomberg]
China has vowed to take all necessary countermeasures after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a fresh 10% tariff hike on Chinese imports.
CNBC reports that this latest escalation in the ongoing trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies has raised concerns over global market stability and potential economic ramifications.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce, in a statement released on Friday, expressed firm opposition to the U.S. decision, warning of potential retaliatory measures.
“If the U.S. insists on its own way, China will take all necessary countermeasures to defend its legitimate rights and interests,” the Ministry stated, according to a CNBC translation.
The statement further urged Washington to reconsider its approach, emphasizing the importance of resolving conflicts through dialogue based on equality.
“We urge the U.S. side to not repeat its own mistakes, and to return as soon as possible to the right track of properly resolving conflicts through dialogue on equal footing.”
Timing and Implications
- The new tariffs, set to take effect on March 4, will coincide with the start of China’s annual parliamentary meetings, a period of heightened economic and political discussions in Beijing.
- These additional duties follow an earlier 10% tariff imposed by Trump on February 4, bringing the total tariff increase to 20% within a month.
- Trump justified the decision by citing China’s alleged role in the fentanyl crisis. The synthetic opioid, whose precursors are largely produced in China and Mexico, has been responsible for tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the U.S. annually.
Potential Chinese Retaliation
Economic analysts predict that China’s response will include higher tariffs on select U.S. imports, placing more American firms on its unreliable entity list, and possibly tightening export controls on critical minerals, a sector where Beijing holds significant leverage.
Neil Thomas, a fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society, noted that while Beijing’s reaction may be measured, it is expected to target strategic sectors.
“In the short term, China’s response will likely include raising tariffs on select U.S. imports, adding more American firms to its unreliable entity list, and potentially further tightening export controls on critical minerals,” Thomas said.
Alfredo Montufar-Helu, head of the China Center at The Conference Board, added that China’s response could be strategically designed to impact industries that are important to Trump’s voter base, keeping the door open for further negotiations.
He said China would prefer to leave some room for further negotiations as it hopes to avoid even higher import tariffs and other ‘corrective’ measures by Washington.
Previous Retaliatory Measures
China has a track record of targeting U.S. industries in retaliation to tariff hikes. Following the February 4 tariffs, Beijing responded by increasing duties on certain U.S. energy imports and placing two American firms on its unreliable entity list, limiting their ability to conduct business in China.
Additionally, China has increased restrictions on exports of critical minerals essential for U.S. industries, a move that could severely impact supply chains.
Stephen Olson, a visiting senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and a former U.S. trade negotiator, highlighted the significance of China’s control over essential raw materials.
“The sharpest arrow that China has in its quiver would be to restrict U.S. access to critical minerals that can’t readily be sourced elsewhere,” Olson remarked.
The trade war escalation has raised concerns about potential disruptions in global supply chains and economic growth. China’s exports have remained a rare bright spot in its otherwise slowing economy, and with the U.S. being its largest single-country trading partner, both nations have a vested interest in preventing further economic downturns.
[Nairametrics]
The factional Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has said that he has been a disciple to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since he left secondary school.
Obasa stated this while answering questions in relation to the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday.
Obasa had stormed the assembly on Thursday alongside his security details and presided over ‘plenary’ attended by four lawmakers, a development which has deepened the crisis.
When asked whether he has Tinubu’s backing in the crisis, Obasa said, “I have been following this man since I just left secondary school. I have pictures to prove this. During SDP I contested for delegate.
“Since then I have always been one of his disciples and I will not change tomorrow. I have always been a loyalist. If they are just realising that now, then they have not been part of us from the genesis.”
On the alleged misunderstanding with Governor Sanwo-Olu, Obasa said that he had been working with the governor smoothly.
“It is not a sin to have an ambition. The governor is my leader and brother. And there is no reason for me to disrespect him. If I have taken a step or an action that seems disrespecting him that might have happened unconsciously.
“Number one, the governor is in our state. We have to respect him and he is my brother. So, as far as I am concerned, there is nothing like that.
“Governorship ambition is not in my consideration. But that doesn’t mean I am not qualified,” he added.
[DailyTrust]
Nigerian singer Timaya and his American girlfriend, Brooke Bailey, have dispelled rumors of their separation.
Speculation recently emerged that the couple had separated after Brooke Bailey unfollowed Timaya on Instagram and deleted all photos of him from her page. The singer also does not have photos of Bailey on his Instagram page and is not following anyone on the platform.
Shutting down the rumors, the couple, via their respective InstaStories, reposted a cozy photo of themselves.
Recall that in December 2024, Timaya and Bailey sparked relationship speculations after they were spotted holding hands while boarding a private jet.
The American reality star also expressed her love for Timaya while in Bayelsa to support him during his homecoming concert in January.
Thereafter, the couple shared photos and videos of themselves professing their love for each other.
[DailyPost]
More...
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, has faulted the action of her predecessor Mudashiru Obasa, who showed up at the Assembly on Thursday, insisting he is still the speaker.
Recall that The Nation had reported that Obasa, returned to the House in a shocking move on Thursday.
Obasa, who was removed as Speaker by 36 lawmakers on January 13, 2025, came in the company of security officials and made his way into the Speaker’s Office around 9 am.
He seized control of the Speaker’s office and held what could be described as a plenary session with four lawmakers loyal to him. Other lawmakers present at the 40-member assembly boycotted the session.
The ousted Speaker proclaimed that his removal was null and void, and asserted that he remains the legitimate Speaker of the House.
Reacting, Meranda said: “Well, this is just the beginning and just like what happened in there, both parties have their representatives, and I think we should allow the legal team do their job.
“Well, I think he (Obasa) is still a member of the assembly, so he has every right to be at the assembly, but I think the invasion and breaking into my office is really a big one.
“The sitting with just lawmakers is a show of shame because in our job, we’ve numbers that must form quorum. If you’re sitting with only 3 or 4 lawmakers, then you’re only doing theatre.
“The public will be notified on the next sitting of the house.”
[TheNation]
The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uguaghan, has accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment.
Akpabio has since denied the allegation through his media consultant, Kenny Okulogbo,
Akpoti-Uduaghan made the allegation during an interview with Arise Television on Friday.
She alleged that Akpabio blocked her motions from being heard on the floor of the Senate because she rejected his advances.
The Kogi lawmaker added that by rejecting Apkabio’s sexual advances, she was subjected to persistent harassment and malignment in his home in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, and his office.
She said, “My issue with Akpabio started on the 8th of December, 2023, when my husband and I attended a pre-birthday invitation extended by the Senate President at his residence in Uyo. We had earlier gone to his house at Ikot-Ekpene, and he held my hand and said he wanted to show me around his house. Just the three of us, my husband and him. I noticed he hastened his pace while still holding my hand, and he got to this particular sitting room.
“He asked ‘do you like my house?’ and I replied ‘of course yes,’ and he said, ‘now that you are a Senator, you are going to create time for us to spend quality time here and you will enjoy it.’
“Later, on the floor of the Senate, I attempted to raise a motion regarding corrupt practices at the Ajaokuta Steel Company. I listed this motion five times, and it was only on the sixth occasion that it appeared on the order paper. When I approached the Senate President to enquire why my motion had been repeatedly stepped down, he told me ‘Natasha, I am the Chief Presiding officer of the Senate. You can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me and make me happy.’ At that point, I told him that I would pretend I didn’t hear that.
“My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.”
Speaking further, Akpoti-Uduaghan said some senators had warned her to adhere to the seat change because it was a trap.
She added, “I was approached by a sergeant-at-arms in the Senate chamber who informed me that my seat had been changed by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. This was news to me because I had attended the last session and had not been informed of any changes. Before the Senate President could announce my suspension, I needed to invoke Order 10, which serves as an SOS for Senators who feel their rights have been breached. The Senate President made a mistake by not allowing me to speak on that Order 10.”
Reacting to the allegation in an interview with PUNCH Online correspondent, the media consultant to the Senate President, Kenny Okulogbo, described the allegations as tissues of lies.
Okulogbo stated that the Kogi lawmaker is angry because she was removed as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content.
He said, “All that Senator Natasha said are all tissues of lies. She is just angry because she was removed as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content.
“The Senate President will respond. We will make an official statement soon.”
[Punch]
Sophia Chinwe Egbueje is a distinguished socialite, model, and entrepreneur.
With a strong presence in the fashion industry and a remarkable influence on social media, she has carved a niche for herself in the Nigerian entertainment and business landscape.
Sophia Egbueje: Early Life and Education
Born June 1, 1996, in Lagos State, Nigeria, into the Egbueje family, Sophia hails from Umuoji town in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Raised in a closely knit household, she shares a strong bond with her siblings.
Academic Pursuits
Sophia Egbueje attended Covenant University in Ogun State, where she earned a degree in Accounting. Her educational background provided her with essential business acumen, which would later fuel her entrepreneurial ventures.
Career Journey
Sophia’s passion for fashion was evident from an early age. Determined to make an impact in the industry, she launched her own fashion company, curating and promoting exclusive fashion pieces that resonated with a diverse clientele.
Her strategic use of social media, particularly Instagram, propelled her into the limelight. By showcasing her impeccable fashion sense and luxurious lifestyle, Sophia Egbueje cultivated a strong following, significantly boosting her brand’s visibility and success.
Beyond her personal brand, Sophia Efgbueje has collaborated with various fashion labels, solidifying her reputation as a trendsetter. Her ability to blend global fashion trends with Nigerian aesthetics has positioned her as a major influencer in the fashion and lifestyle space.
'Only God Will Decides 2027, Not el-Rufai' - 255 LG Councilors endorse Tinubu, Gov Sani For 2nd Term
AFOLABI
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Kaduna State, Alhaji Sadiq Mamman Lagos has said that former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, cannot decide on what will happen in 2027, but only God can decide.
He also decried El-Rufai’s comment against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State.
He told El-Rufai to steer clear of Kaduna, pointing out that “God will decide who wins the Governorship and Presidential election in 2027”.
Mamman Lagos spoke in an interview with journalists, even as Kaduna’s 255 Councilors in Kaduna State endorsed President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani for a second term in 2027.
“We must set the record straight by reminding all who care to listen that our good and amiable Governor had never at any time interfered with the running of the state in the previous administration.”
“He concentrated on initiating and passing bills in collaboration with fellow lawmakers at the Senate and his constituents to make life better for people. We see no reason he should at this time be distracted by someone who feels he has the monopoly to either make or mar individuals.”
“Go round and see for yourselves how Governor Uba Sani has succeeded in reversing virtually all the unpopular and various anti masses policies of his predecessor who rode to power on the goodwill of the people and sacrifices made by grassroots politicians such as Uba Sani…”
“Governor Sani has surpassed the expectations of even the opposition who see in him a leader needed at this time to unite the people and bring back the lost glory of the state. He has virtually touched all aspects of governance to bring success…”
“Confiscated or demolished properties have been returned to their owners, high tuition fees charged by the previous administration have been reversed, traditional rulers deposed, got back their thrones.”
“There have been massive infrastructural developments cutting across all the three Senatorial Zones, correcting the hitherto impression of the APC as government of a particular segment.”
“We want to use this opportunity to admonish this individual and his co-travelers, if any, to desist from further making of inflammatory and empty threats as if he owns the key to political success in the next election. The electorate will decide who to pitch their tents with and can be relied on for his compassion and soft heart for the masses,” he said.
Early, the Councillors said there is no vacancy in the Presidential Villa Abuja and Sir Kashim Ibrahim Kaduna Government House come 2027.
Muhammad Sani Badiko, who addressed journalists on behalf of the 255 councilors, linked their support for Governor Uba Sani to the massive infrastructural developments which “are unprecedented in the history of Kaduna state”.
“We score the Governor high on rural development, economic recovery, education and healthcare positive intervention programmes for growth and innovation. We are going to mobilize grassroots support for the Governor’s reelection in 2027, we call on all political actors to sheath their swords and wait after 2031,” they said.