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Natasha to serve out suspension as Senate enters recess

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Two days after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was barred from resuming her duties, the Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, adjourned plenary till September 23, 2025, for its annual recess.

With the recess now in effect, the embattled Kogi senator is expected to serve out the remainder of her suspension until plenary resumes.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, for six months, following allegations of misconduct and insubordination during plenary on February 20, 2025, when she rejected a change to her designated seat.

The Senate had warned it might revisit her suspension if she failed to issue a formal apology.

The penalty was based on recommendations by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which found her guilty after investigating complaints against her.

The suspension was to last until September 6, 2025. However, with the recess, the embattled lawmaker would serve out her term.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, speaking to journalists on Tuesday after a failed attempt to enter the Senate chamber, described the Senate’s action as contemptuous and said she would seek legal redress at the appellate level.

“Even the suspension ab initio was fraudulent—the document was faulty,” she said.

“Going forward, I will have a meeting with my legal team so they can proceed to the appellate court to seek interpretation of what just happened. I am a law-abiding citizen.”

She also accused Senate President Akpabio of acting beyond his authority.

With the recess, however, the Senate would not reconvene until she had served out the full suspension slammed on her by the Red Chamber.

Announcing the break on the floor, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the decision was based on “chamber reciprocity,” noting that the House of Representatives had already proceeded on recess in line with the legislative calendar.

“We have started a new calendar that will take us to next year, June. And so it has fallen within this period for us to go on for a break to enable us to undertake major oversights,” Akpabio explained.

He clarified that although plenary sessions would be on hold, committee assignments should continue during the recess.

“All necessary committees—the diaspora committee, committee on reparation, committee on interior and others—this is the best time for you to undertake visits to prisons and all that.

“Do all your reports and make them available as soon as we come back,” he directed.

The Senate President urged lawmakers to embark on oversight visits across the country, stressing that their duties must not be neglected.

“You are moving from plenary for the next few weeks, but you are not stopping your legislative functions, because that’s what your people elected you to do. Members are expected to travel to Sokoto, everywhere, to observe the road repairs that are going on.

“By the time we resume, you are expected to bring your reports, committee by committee, for us to look into. I want to wish you safe travels and for all of us to return in good health,” he added.

Akpabio also informed members of the death of Prof Janet Plang, wife of Senator Diket Plang.

He said arrangements had been made for senators to travel to Plateau State on Friday to attend the funeral, with a plane scheduled to depart Abuja at 8 am.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele commended senators for their dedication to legislative work.

“We thank all our colleagues for all they have done to ensure that the business of lawmaking on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria has progressed smoothly,” Bamidele said.

He thereafter moved a motion to defer all other matters on the order paper to the next legislative day, which the Senate adopted unanimously.

Natasha delayed at airport

In a separate development, the embattled senator was reportedly delayed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, last Thursday while trying to board a flight to the United Kingdom.

A family source said immigration officers claimed she had been placed on a watch list at the instance of the National Assembly leadership.

“She was told that the leadership of the National Assembly requested that she be considered a flight risk and placed on a watch list,” the source said.

“We are wondering why they treated her that way, given there is no court order restricting her movement and she has never missed any of her court appearances.”

Eyewitnesses confirmed that Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared distressed and made a series of phone calls before she was eventually allowed to board after her passport was stamped.

When contacted shortly before takeoff, the senator confirmed the incident, saying, “The aircraft is about to take off.”

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Igboho Apologises To Alaafin Over Comment At Ooni’s Palace

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Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo who is popularly called Sunday Igboho, has apologised to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, over a statement he made during his visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

In a video late Saturday, Sunday Igboho dismissed the claims of insulting Oba Owoade, saying “I have nothing to gain in abusing the Alaafin”.

The Yoruba nation agitator insisted that his remarks at the Ooni’s palace were self-praise drawn from his lineage’s traditional eulogy.

He maintained that he holds the Alaafin in high esteem, describing him as an important ruler in Yorubaland.

Igboho clarified that his reference to the Alaafin as not having a crown was not intended as an insult, but as part of his family’s praise chant, which was well-known to Oba Owoade himself.

He stressed that his intention was to promote peace and unity among Yoruba monarchs, not to stir conflict.

“My father, Olugbon, called me and explained to me that our father, Alaafin of Oyo, said I was abusing him when I was at the Ooni of Ife’s Palace. I was not abusing you; why would I be abusing you? Olugbon is not a small king in Yoruba land, and if he corrects me on something, I will definitely make amendments immediately.

“Alaafin is not a small king in Yoruba land for someone like me to be talking anyhow to. I’m also from Oyo. That’s the way they normally eulogise us in my lineage, which the Alaafin is also aware of.

“They would say, ‘L’ade l’ade l’ade, Alaafin doesn’t have a crown, it is the crown of Aladikun that was collected for Alaafin’. That’s how they eulogise us in our Aladikun lineage.

“Ooni of Ife is a peaceful person; if not, I’ve abused him before, and when I entered his palace, they were still eulogising me in his presence and he didn’t say anything.

“So I also eulogised myself as a true son of Aladikun. All these things did not annoy the Ooni of Ife. He still celebrated me and called other powerful monarchs to honour and pray for me.

“I have nothing to gain in abusing Alaafin. What I’m after is for peace to reign among all of our kings; that is our prayer.

“Please, forgive me, I dare not disrespect you,” Igboho pleaded with the Alaafin.

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‘I Didn’t Abuse Alaafin’ – Sunday Igboho Speaks After Visiting Ooni

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Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has denied claims that he insulted the Alaafin of Oyo during his weekend visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Reacting to reports sparked by comments he made at the Ooni’s palace on Saturday, Igboho insisted that his words were misinterpreted, stressing that he regarded the Alaafin as a father figure and a foremost monarch in Yorubaland.

In a viral video on Saturday night, Igboho said, “My father, the Olugbon, called me and said the Alaafin felt I insulted him when I visited the Ooni. I want to make it clear that I never abused the Alaafin. I can’t and I won’t. The Alaafin is not a small monarch in Yorubaland. I am from Oyo, and the Alaafin is my father.”

Explaining the circumstances, Igboho stated that the confusion arose from traditional praise singing during his palace visit.

“When I visited the Ooni, the drummers and singers praised me with my family heritage. I only added to it. I said Ooni is a father of peace.

“I was surprised when he still welcomed me warmly, celebrated me and prayed for me despite all that had happened before. That was what I was emphasising. I didn’t insult the Alaafin,” he clarified.

The activist noted that the self-praise, or oríkì, was a long-standing cultural practice and not an act of disrespect.

“I can’t abuse Alaafin. I am his son. Even when I visited him, I greeted myself with the same oriki. That is how we do in our family compound.

“If my words were misunderstood, I ask for forgiveness. I never meant to insult the Alaafin,” Igboho added.

Reiterating his loyalty to Yoruba tradition, Igboho stressed that he would never speak ill of any monarch, noting that harmony among royal fathers was crucial for the unity of the Yoruba nation

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Sultan Declares Monday As First Day Of Rabi’ul Awwal 1447AH

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The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Monday, 25th August, 2025, as the first Day of Rabi’ul Awwal 1447AH.

It was reports that the declaration was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, and Wazirin Sokoto, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu.

He stated that the decision followed reports from the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs in conjunction with the National Moon sighting Committee, which confirmed that no sighting of the new crescent was received from Moon sighting Committees across the Country on Saturday, 23rd August, 2025, corresponding to 29th Safar 1447AH.

It explained that Sunday, 24th August, 2025, would therefore be the 30th Day of Safar, thereby making Monday the First Day of Rabi’ul Awwal 1447AH.

Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has faulted the proposed bill at the Senate seeking to officially designate the Ooni of Ife and the Sultan of Sokoto as permanent Co-Chairmen of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria.

The Ohanaeze warned that such a move marginalises other ethnic nationalities and violates principles of fairness and equity.

The organisation, in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ezechi Chukwu, described the bill, which has already passed second reading, as discriminatory, ethnocentric and unjust.

Ohanaeze stated that it was “astounded” by the rationale behind the bill, accusing the Senate of utter disregard for fairness, equity, justice and the principle of federal character, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

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