Category: 📈Trends

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.”

President Bola Tinubu has signed into law the N54.99tn 2025 Appropriation Bill.

Tinubu signed the budget in the presence of principal officers of the National Assembly and other top government officials in a small ceremony in his office at the State House, Abuja, on Friday.

The bill was passed by the two Chambers of the National Assembly on Thursday, February 13, after Tinubu asked for an increase from the proposed N49.7tn.

The National Assembly approved a ₦54.99 trillion ($36.6bn) budget for the fiscal year, surpassing President Bola Tinubu’s initial proposal of ₦54.2tn.

This increase reflects additional anticipated revenues from agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.

The budget aims to address key areas, including security, infrastructure, education, and health, with an allocation of $200m to mitigate the impact of recent U.S. health aid reductions.

The 2025 budget is based on ambitious economic assumptions, including a crude oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day at a benchmark price of $75 per barrel.

Additionally, the Federal Government projects an exchange rate of ₦1,500 to the U.S. dollar and aims to reduce inflation from 34.8 per cent to 15 per cent within the year.

A significant component of the fiscal strategy involves tax reforms, which Tinubu says, are designed to enhance revenue generation and economic stability.

The proposed tax overhaul includes increasing the value-added tax to 12.5 per cent by 2026 while exempting essential goods such as food and medicine to alleviate the burden on households.

The reform also proposes reallocating VAT revenues to favour states that generate more, a move that has sparked debate regarding regional economic disparities.

The 2025 Appropriation Act represents a 99.96 per cent increase from the 2024 Budget of N27.5tn.

Details later…

The Bauchi State Government has declared that all schools across the state will be closed for five weeks, from March 1 to April 5, to allow students to fully observe the Ramadan fast.

This move is in line with the official school calendar for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Jalaludeen Maina, the Information Officer for the Ministry of Education, confirmed that the directive applies to all educational institutions in the state — including public and private primary schools, junior and senior secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions.

According to Maina, the government’s intention is to ease the academic pressure on students during the holy month, giving them time to focus on their religious obligations without the distraction of schoolwork.

However, the decision has sparked mixed reactions from parents and guardians. While some appreciate the government’s effort to support students’ religious commitments, others fear the prolonged holiday could disrupt learning and affect academic performance.

A section of parents expressed concerns that the extended break might lead to a decline in retention of previously taught lessons, while others worry it could contribute to a rise in the number of children stayingvout of school.

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An 18-year-old girl, Rukayat Ashiru, has been brought before the Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly drugging her boyfriend, Waris Olamilekan, and stealing N4 million from his account.

The case happened on November 30, 2024, at Mufu Lanihun area in Yidi Agugu, Ibadan.

Rukayat was taken to court on Friday, February 28, 2025, where she was charged with conspiracy and stealing. She, however, pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The police prosecutor, PC Olapeju Durodola, told the court that Rukayat and some other people, who are still on the run, planned together to drug Waris by putting a substance in his drink.

After Waris became unconscious, Rukayat allegedly took N4 million from his account.

The prosecutor said the offences are against Sections 390(9) and 516 of the Criminal Code Law of Oyo State, 2000.

The Chief Magistrate, Olabisi Ogunkanmi, allowed Rukayat to go on bail for N2 million. She must also bring two people to stand as sureties for her.

One of the sureties must own a property within the court’s area, and the second surety must be a family member.

The case was then postponed until May 26, 2025, for hearing.

Popular critic, VeryDarkMan, releases evidence implicating renowned Gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo, amid lawsuit with her former record label boss, Eezee Tee.

It’s worth noting that Mercy Chinwo and Eezee Tee are embroiled in a lawsuit, with Mercy Chinwo accusing her former record label boss of fraud and financial exploitation.

In a recent development, VeryDarkMan weighs in on the lawsuit controversy, releasing evidence implicating Mercy Chinwo.

In a video posted to Instagram, VeryDarkMan claimed, with evidence, that the prosecutor in the case and the presiding judge have close ties to Mercy Chinwo.

According to VeryDarkMan,the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo has been sanctioned by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for alleged human rights violations.

Furthermore, VeryDarkMan claimed that presiding judge, Michael Nzekwe follows Mercy Chinwo on Instagram, prompting questions about his connection to the singer.

He expressed concerns about potential favoritism and suggested the judge step down due to his connection to Mercy Chinwo.

“This case should be given to a neutral person, a Muslim judge that may not know Mercy Chinwo, doesn’t listen to gospel songs and doesn’t know Eezee concept”, He added.

Watch the video below….

WATCH HERE

Nigerian lady has been apprehended by security operatives for seeking financial assistance online under false pretense.

The lady, identifed as Ogechi Okechukwu reached out to popular Facebook influencer, Uwaoma Susan Joseph, who raised donations on her behalf.

Ogechi Okechukwu, a native of Bayelsa, was arrested by security agents after incriminating messages between her and a doctor were found on her phone.

Meanwhile, following her arrest, Ogechi Okechukwu has been detained pending investigation by security operatives into the fraudulent act.

Check out reactions that have followed…

Martha Musa remarked, “Why are they arresting her?.When genuine people like me cry for help and needed financial to go to hospital treatment with our honest heart, nobody cares, but when liars talked immediately they answered them.that is good”.

Roselin Ugwu stated, “Dey should pls pardon her things hard, thank God we didn’t see her with human head, or prostitution”.

Adannaya Edith added, “These fine geh just spoil her reputation.Chaiiii”.

Tordo Adose emphasized, “People making money at expenses of others”.

See below….

Billionaire businessman, Cosmas Maduka explains why love is not enough for marriage as he lists out the things a man must have before getting married.

The chairman of Coscharis Group spoke on this while being featured on the Mic On podcast.

Seun Okinbaloye, the anchor, noted that lots of girls insist men who don’t earn enough shouldn’t approach them, and asked the business for his opinion on that.

Reacting to this, the businessman noted that love isn’t enough to begin a marriage.

According to him, the man should have a two or three bedroom and should declare his monthly earnings to his partner.

He said …

“Seun, it’s finding the middle of the road, because that is also important.

“There are ladies who jump at a man because he say, ‘I’ll marry you. I love you.’ Will you eat love?

“I told ladies, I say, ‘if you marry a man who has no job because he speaks in tongues, you’re not spiritual.’

“I do not encourage ladies to marry a man that has no plan for his life.

“The first thing I said, minimum, he must have a two or three bedrooms apartment where he’s living. He must tell you how much he earns every month. You’re not going to live by faith with her.”

He stated that when he decided to get married, he took responsibility by renting a three-bedroom house, rather than moving his wife into his family home.

“That’s part of the maturity,” he added.

He also noted that he was already working and making enough to begin a family before he got married.

Watch video below …