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Court reschedules Natasha’s cybercrime trial to November 24

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled the cybercrime trial of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to November 24.

The new hearing date was fixed on October 21, following the resumption of court activities that were stalled the previous day due to the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest organised by activist Omoyele Sowore.

The protest had disrupted proceedings on October 20, the initial date slated for the trial in the Court.

On Monday, Justice Umar’s courtroom, located on the third floor of the Federal High Court, was under lock and key as judicial activities were grounded.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, is alleged to have transmitted false and injurious information via electronic means with the intent to malign, incite, endanger lives, and breach public order.

The senator is accused of alleging, during a gathering on April 4 in Ihima, Kogi State, that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, instructed former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, to have her killed in the state.

She was further alleged to have repeated the claims during a television interview, stating that both men plotted to eliminate her in Kogi.

The charge was brought under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

Justice Umar had earlier, on September 22, adjourned the matter following an objection raised by the defence.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar.

She was granted bail thereafter, and the case was adjourned to September 22 for commencement of trial.

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However, on the last adjourned date, when prosecuting counsel David Kaswe was about to call the first witness, the defence counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa, raised a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

West-Idahosa told the court that the objection was not against the nature of the charge but on grounds of alleged abuse of prosecutorial powers by the Attorney General of the Federation.

He also complained that the defence had not been served with the statements of the prosecution witnesses.

Although Kaswe argued that the objection should not stall the day’s proceedings, Justice Umar ruled that the prosecution must first respond to the defence’s objection before the case could proceed.

The judge said he would determine the objection before taking any further steps in the matter.

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I’m proud of my achievements as Finance Minister – Wale Edun opens up after sack

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Former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has expressed satisfaction with his tenure, stating that he is proud of the progress by the Nigerian economy recorded while in office.

Edun spoke a day after President Bola Tinubu announced his removal and appointed Taiwo Oyedele as his successor.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Edun thanked the President for the opportunity to serve in multiple roles since the administration began in May 2023, including as head of the Presidential Transition Committee, Special Adviser on Monetary Policy, and later Finance Minister.

“It has been an honour to contribute to the implementation of the administration’s economic agenda at a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey,” he said.

Reflecting on the state of the economy at the outset, Edun acknowledged that the government inherited significant challenges but noted that reforms undertaken during his tenure had begun to deliver results.

He cited improvements in economic growth from about 2 percent to over 4 percent and a decline in inflation from 35 percent to 15 percent, attributing the gains to efforts aimed at stabilising the macroeconomic environment and boosting investor confidence.

Edun said the progress recorded was a collective effort involving members of the Federal Executive Council, state governors, and stakeholders across the public and private sectors.

“I am proud of what we achieved alongside colleagues and the many dedicated professionals whose work continues to support the nation’s economic transformation,” he added.

While acknowledging that challenges remain, the former minister expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic trajectory, describing reform as a continuous process. He also extended goodwill to his successor and reaffirmed his commitment to national service.

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PHOTOS: Ogun govt shuts down Ijebu-Imushin market over dirty environment, indiscriminate dumping of refuse

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The Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) has shut down the Ijebu- Imushin market in the Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state over indiscriminate waste disposal.

Special Adviser to the Governor on OGWAMA, Farook Akintunde, said the closure of the market became necessary after several warnings to the market leaders and traders on the need to operate in a clean environment and stop the indiscriminate dumping of waste in the market surroundings.

He lamented that despite the agency’s mechanical evacuation of their heaps of waste and provision of a Roll On Roll Off Bin, the marketers returned to dumping the waste.

He said, “To make their behaviour unacceptable, they refuse to patronise the PSP assigned to them for proper evacuation of their waste and prefer to dump their waste indiscriminately in the market.

“Despite this, OGWAMA decided to clean the market through mechanical evacuation of their heaps of waste and thereafter provided a Roll On Roll Off Bin for them to deposit their waste for easy evacuation, but they refused to make use of the bin and decided to still dump their waste indiscriminately in the market.

“The state government, through OGWAMA, will not fold its hand and watch a few traders put the health and well-being of a flourishing town into jeopardy by operating in such a filthy environment,” Akintunde added.

He called on the traders and their leaders to clean the whole market and inculcate the habit of using the bin instead of dumping them indiscriminately in the market surroundings, adding that it attracts flies and contaminates wares sold to the public, thereby spreading avoidable diseases.

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Akintunde insisted that until these are done, the market will remain shut in the overriding public interest.

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Senate names new minority whip as two more senators defect to APC

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The Senate on Wednesday appointed Senator Tony Nwoye as the new Minority Whip, following a fresh wave of defections that has further boosted the numerical strength of the All Progressives Congress in the upper chamber.

Nwoye, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District, was unanimously selected by the Senate minority caucus to fill the vacancy created by the exit of his predecessor.

His emergence comes on the heels of the defection of former Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu, from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC on Wednesday, one of several high-profile crossovers that altered the balance within the opposition ranks.

In a letter read on the floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Ngwu said his decision was driven by the need to align with Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah and President Bola Tinubu.

He also described the APC as the most stable political platform in the country.

Nwoye was elected into the Senate in 2023 on the platform of the Labour Party before defecting to the African Democratic Congress in late 2025, positioning him within the opposition bloc prior to his new leadership role.

The reshuffle in minority leadership came amid a broader pattern of defections that has steadily eroded the strength of opposition parties in the Senate since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

In a related development, Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro, representing Gombe South, also announced his defection from the PDP to the APC, citing internal crises within the opposition party.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada, formally announced his defection from the Social Democratic Party to the APC.

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Wadada, who has also been endorsed as the APC consensus governorship candidate for Nasarawa State ahead of the 2027 elections, said he had previously aligned with the ruling party but completed the formal procedures of his defection on Wednesday.

Reacting to the developments, Senator Adams Oshiomhole commended the lawmakers, describing their defections as voluntary and consistent with constitutional provisions.

He said the increasing movement of legislators into the APC reflects growing confidence in the party’s leadership and the administration of President Tinubu.

With the latest defections, the APC’s strength in the Senate has risen to 91 lawmakers—further consolidating its dominance and tightening its grip on legislative proceedings as political realignments gather pace ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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