Politics
Court did not lift senate probe ban on Natasha —Group Clarifies
A pressure group, Action Collective, has urged Nigerians to disregard rumors that the Federal High Court has lifted its order restraining the Senate from probing Senator Natasha Uduaghan over allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Goodwill Akpabio.
In a statement signed on Thursday by Dr. Onimisi Ibrahim, the Kogi-based group reaffirmed that the court order remains in effect. According to them, instead of vacating it, the court provided further clarification on the case.
They explained that the court had not yet considered Senator Uduaghan’s request for a mandatory injunction but had instead addressed a motion filed by the Senate on March 17, 2025.
The group noted that in spite of the restraining order, the Senate proceeded with its investigation and ultimately pronounced a six-month suspension on Senator Natasha.
“They equally filed an application, which was vehemently opposed by the Plaintiff’s counsel, Michael Numa, SAN, who emphasized the Senate’s contemptuous actions in defying the Court’s orders.
“Numa argued that the Senate was not entitled to any further orders from the same court it had disrespected.
“After standing down the matter for a few hours, the Judge returned to deliver a ruling, offering clarification on the scope of Order 4. Contrary to the interpretation sought by the 2nd Defendant (the Senate), that the restraining order was meant to halt the entire legislative function of the Senate, the Court noted that the National Assembly had been carrying out its legislative functions without any hindrance.
“The Court further clarified that, owing to the varying interpretations of the order, it would set aside only the consequential aspects of Order 4, which was merely meant to give effect to the predicate orders.”
The group declared that contrary to false reports, “The Court did not set aside Orders 1, 2, or 3, which include the orders restraining the Senate’s Ethics Committee from continuing its investigation into the Plaintiff’s alleged conduct while the Motion for an Interlocutory Injunction remains pending.
“Additionally, the Court did not reverse its directive for the Defendants to show cause within 72 hours or overturn the order to maintain the status quo ante bellum.
“The Court’s decision only involved the clarification of Order 4 due to the differing interpretations presented by the Defendants.
“The matter was subsequently adjourned to March 25, 2025, for the hearing of all pending applications, including the substantive dispute.
“We use this medium to assure the general public that justice shall prevail, even as we urge everyone to disregard the misinformation in circulation,” the group clarified.
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Adewole Adebayo said, God has told him that the party will produce the next president in 2027 general election.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokua when he met the members and executive who were led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said he could confirm that a President of SDP will mount Aso Rock villa in 2027.
“One thing that God is telling me is that there will be an SDP president in the villa in 2027.
“For the first time in a long time, we will have people who care for the people. Let’s remain focused. The problems of Nigeria are our problems, not individuals.
“We are not against Tinubu as a person but we are against hunger, inflation, poverty, insecurity, unemployment. That’s what we are against,” he said.
Buttressing Adebayo’s position on modalities of joining the party, the SDP Chairman in Ogun State, Mr. Yinka Ola-Williams, disowned 30,000 membership cards and registers allegedly being flaunted by one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in the 2023 governorship election in the State.
Ola-Williams said the party’s door is widely opened to anybody who wants to join, but such a person or group, no matter how highly placed, must follow the procedure as laid down in the party’s constitution.
He emphatically stated that the party had nothing to do with the membership cards and registers claimed by the aspirant, who said he got them from the party’s National Secretariat.
“We want people to join us, and we want to work together to provide a better government than what we have now that will remove poverty, provide a better healthcare system for people, improve education and all.
“But not that they come to the party, hijack the party and take the structure away. That’s what we will not agree,” Ola-Williams said.
Barrister Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, apprehensive of massive defection to the party urged defectors to go through legitimate route and due process.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokuta, Adebayo when he met with SDP members and executive members led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said the party is open to defectors, but they must do so legitimately.
Flanked by the former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, the former presidential candidate allayed fears that defectors may hijack the party, stressing that the National Working Committee of SDP can only issue membership cards through the executive at the state levels.
He said, “People are counterfeiting naira, they are counterfeiting the dollar, they’re bringing counterfeit rice, and NAFDAC is chasing counterfeit drugs. Why are you surprised that there are counterfeit party cards? Especially if the party cards are carried by counterfeit politicians who have a history of doing counterfeiting in their former parties. So, we should forgive everybody, but this counterfeiting will not work in SDP.”
“We are not fighting anybody we are only saying ‘come to our house through the front door not through the ceiling or the window.’ That’s all. Everybody here joined the party legitimately, anybody coming will join legitimately”.
“We have spoken to the National Chairman and the NWC, he said there’s no counterfeiting of anything. Any card that’s not given through the state, LG and executives is not from the SDP. So, if they come, you will tell them to go away. Put your name in our register here and pay us here. We will get the card for you. That’s how it is”.
“They want to run faster than their legs. Secondly, you are hearing rumors that people are coming to our party, Awolowo is coming, Azikiwe is coming, Balewa, Ahmadu Bello is coming. Let’s see them. Nigerians know us and they know them.”
He ruled out any plan that SDP would merge or collaborate with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC or any political party ahead of 2027 general election.
According to him, SDP is committed to the well-being and welfare of Nigerians, while he ruled out insinuations that the party is an appendage of APC.
“Maybe APC has appendicitis; they should go to the hospital to kill it. We are a strong party. We are older than any of the parties available. Our mission is clear: we are not in government with them.
“I led the party in the last election. I’m still standing here. I’m not a minister under Tinubu; all the state chairman and the national chairman are intact, including the national secretary. So, we are standing on our own.
“The reason people look down on us is because we don’t attack people, but we tackle issues because our party is a party of intellect. We are the only party that’s a little to the left. Having been a little to the left since we came in 1989, we remain so.
“The problems of Nigeria can only be found with solutions on the left, which is that chapter two of the Constitution, invest money in education, in housing, in healthcare, good infrastructure, let Nigerians live what chief Obafemi Awolowo called a life more abundant,” he said.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
Kogi: CP Dantawaye engage stakeholders in Ijumu, emphasises security, community policing
Fidelity Bank equips entrepreneurs for global trade success with EMP 18
Reports of Justice Agim accompanying Wike to UNICAL convocation false, misleading Supreme Court
Confusion in ISWAP, B’Haram camp, as top commanders eliminated in military’s fire power [Pictures]
Breaking: Bello appoints Ohinoyi of Ebira Chairman, Kogi Council of Chiefs
Amid endless salary cut, Bello takes delivery of Mercedes Benz S class, 2019 model worth N98 million
-
News1 week agoBill to establish National Cashew Production and Research Institute in Kogi passes first reading in Senate
-
News1 week agoShehu Sani debunks Governor Uba Sani’s alleged diversion of LG funds, challenges El-Rufai to publicly tender evidence
-
News1 week agoReport of attack on Wike’s Port Harcourt residence false, misleading – Police
-
News7 days agoPlateau gov’t expresses concern over violence in Shendam LGA, calls for calm
-
Sports1 week agoMerino gives Arsenal win over Chelsea
-
Politics5 days agoOpposition leaders announce coalition to challenge Tinubu in 2027
-
Interview1 week agoSenators Natasha-Akpabio saga should have been resolved privately – Rev. Mrs Emeribe
-
News1 week agoNatasha uncovers arrest plot after reported Akpabio to IPU in New York