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Oyo state must act now to end the horrors of human trafficking

By Mabel Adinya Ade

The horrifying discovery of yet another human trafficking den in Oyo State—where over 200 decomposed bodies, human skulls, and butchered remains of innocent victims lay abandoned—is a clear testament to the growing horror of modern-day slavery and organ harvesting in Nigeria. This is not just a crime; it is a genocide against our people, an unforgivable atrocity that has become too frequent to be ignored.

Oyo State has once again been thrown into mourning, as families continue to search for loved ones who have disappeared into the deadly grip of traffickers. Yet, despite this unrelenting horror, the government’s response remains slow, and the legislation that could effectively curb human trafficking is still gathering dust.

In less than a year, this is the second time such a gruesome discovery has been made. How many more mass graves must be uncovered before we recognize the urgency of this crisis? How many more innocent men, women, and children must fall victim to this monstrous trade before the government takes decisive action?

The Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Bill, championed by stakeholders under the committee constituted by the Honourable Attorney General of Oyo State, has the potential to be a game-changer in the fight against trafficking. Yet, its delay in being passed and implemented means that traffickers continue to operate freely, abducting and slaughtering human beings for profit.

Nigerians and indeed, the people of Oyo State deserve better. The government has a responsibility to protect its citizens from this heinous crime. We, therefore, demand the following immediate actions:

  1. The Urgent Passage of the CTIP Bill: The Oyo State House of Assembly must expedite the passage of the CTIP Bill to provide a strong legal framework for prosecuting traffickers and protecting victims. Delay is no longer an option—it is a death sentence for many innocent people.
  2. The Establishment of a CTIP Commission: Beyond passing the Bill, a specialized Counter Trafficking in Persons Commission should be set up with the power to investigate and dismantle trafficking networks operating in the state.
  3. A Full-Scale Investigation and Accountability: The discovery of these human slaughterhouses must not be treated as just another tragic event. We demand a thorough and transparent investigation into the syndicates responsible for these atrocities, and all those involved—no matter how powerful—must face justice.
  4. State-Driven Awareness and Prevention Programs: Communities must be sensitized to recognize the dangers of trafficking, report suspicious activities, and protect their children from falling into the hands of traffickers.
  5. Protection and Support for Survivors: Survivors of trafficking suffer unimaginable trauma and need comprehensive rehabilitation. The state government must prioritize support services for rescued victims, including medical care, psychological counseling, and economic reintegration.

This is a war against humanity, and Oyo State cannot afford to lose. The Honourable Attorney General must rise to this challenge and act swiftly to ensure that traffickers no longer find safe ground in Oyo State. The eyes of the nation are watching, and history will judge whether this administration stood for justice or allowed impunity to reign.

The Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF) and the CTIP Commission Cluster Project stand ready to support the government in tackling this menace. But the time for rhetoric is over this is the moment for real action.

Oyo State, act now before more lives are lost.

Mabel Adinya Ade, Executive Director, Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF) & Anchor, CTIP Commission Cluster Project

Nigeria’s Gender Parity Crisis: The assault on Senator Natasha and the unraveling of women’s rights in governance

By Mabel Adinya Ade

The recent allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan have exposed the deeply entrenched gender-based violence (GBV) and the systemic marginalization of women in Nigerian politics. These allegations, if proven, not only highlight individual misconduct but also reflect the toxic environment that continues to suppress women’s political participation in Nigeria.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s brave stand against this abuse of power is a defining moment in the fight for gender equality. Instead of addressing these serious allegations with the gravity they deserve, certain individuals including women have chosen to shame and silence her. This is unacceptable. Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF) and I, Mabel Adinya Ade, strongly condemn this attempt to stifle a bold, progressive leader and brilliant senator who has become the pride of women in the Senate.

Nigeria’s Shameful Gender Disparity in Politics

Despite women constituting almost half of Nigeria’s population, their representation in governance is alarmingly low. Out of 360 members in the House of Representatives, only 16 are women. In the 109-member Senate, only four women hold seats. Worse still, 14 out of Nigeria’s 36 states have no female lawmakers at all.

Globally, Nigeria ranks 180th out of 185 countries in women’s political representation, making it the worst performer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Countries like Rwanda (61% female parliamentarians), Senegal (54%), and South Africa (47%) have made significant progress in gender inclusion, and this has translated into stronger economies, better policies, and inclusive governance. The evidence is clear: nations that include women in leadership experience faster and more sustainable development.

The Multiplier Effect of Gender Exclusion on Nigeria’s Development

Nigeria’s failure to embrace gender parity has far-reaching consequences:

  1. Stagnation in Policy Development: Women’s underrepresentation means that issues affecting half the population—such as maternal health, economic empowerment, and GBV—are often overlooked.
  2. Loss of Economic Growth: Studies show that closing the gender gap in leadership could increase Nigeria’s GDP by 23% by 2025.
  3. Continued GBV and Disenfranchisement: When women in leadership face harassment and intimidation, what happens to poor, marginalized women with no platform to speak out?

What Message Are We Sending to the World?

By allowing such blatant harassment and intimidation, Nigeria is reinforcing the image of a nation that does not value women’s contributions, rights, or safety. This weakens our global standing and contradicts international commitments such as the Beijing Declaration (1995), the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Demand Gender Equity Now!

We cannot remain silent while brave women like Senator Natasha are ridiculed for speaking up. The National Assembly must be held accountable for the hostility and hate speech directed at women leaders. It is disgraceful that a few women have chosen to side with oppressors rather than defend their own rights. This culture of silence and complicity must end.

For the safety and dignity of our daughters and future generations, we must: demand gender-sensitive policies and affirmative action for women’s leadership.

Call for immediate investigations into the harassment allegations against Senator Akpabio.

Reject all forms of intimidation against women in politics.

Gender equality is not a favor it is a right. Nigeria will never reach its full potential unless we recognize, respect, and empower women.

Mabel Adinya Ade
Founder and Executive Director, Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF)
Writing from AAF Office, 8 Eket Close, Area 8, Garki, Abuja

Nigeria’s Democracy on Trial: The suspension of Senator Natasha and the systematic erasure of women in politics

By Mabel Adinya Ade

The Nigerian Senate, in a stunning display of patriarchal impunity, has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, demanding an apology from her for daring to speak out. Her crime? Alleging sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio a man previously publicly accused of similar misconduct. This suspension is a travesty of justice, an assault on democracy, and a dangerous precedent that threatens the very foundation of gender equality and political freedom in Nigeria.

The Weaponization of Power Against Women in Politics

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension is not just about one woman it is about the institutional silencing of women in Nigerian governance. The National Assembly, which should be a bastion of democracy, has instead become a hostile battlefield where women who challenge entrenched systems of patriarchy are systematically bullied, humiliated, and cast aside.

How does a democratically elected senator, representing thousands of citizens, get stripped of her constitutional role for exposing sexual harassment a fundamental issue that the Nigerian government has vowed to combat? The message is chilling: speak out, and you will be punished. Stand for justice, and you will be erased. Demand accountability, and you will be silenced.

This is not the first time an elected senator has been arbitrarily suspended. The courts have ruled against such actions in the past, yet the Senate, in flagrant disregard for the rule of law, has once again wielded suspension as a weapon of intimidation. If an outspoken, accomplished, and politically strategic woman like Senator Natasha can be targeted, what hope is there for ordinary women who aspire to leadership?

A Pattern of Political Violence Against Women

The attack on Senator Natasha is part of a larger, more insidious war against women in Nigerian politics. Nigeria already ranks among the lowest in the world for women’s representation in governance, and this latest act of political suppression will only widen the gender gap. Women who might have considered public office will now think twice, knowing that:

  1. Their voices will be met with hostility rather than respect.
  2. Their integrity will be questioned if they expose wrongdoing.
  3. Their positions will be precarious, subject to the whims of male-dominated political structures that can erase them overnight.

It is no coincidence that this suspension comes just as Senator Natasha was making groundbreaking contributions to legislation, infrastructure, education, and economic development in her state. Her work threatened the status quo, and the system responded with brutality.

The Dangerous Future We Are Creating

If this trend of political misogyny continues, Nigeria will cement its status as a hostile nation for women in governance. This will have profound consequences:

Reduced development: Countries with higher gender parity in politics experience greater economic growth and social stability. By stifling women’s leadership, Nigeria is sabotaging its own progress.

Global condemnation: The world is watching, and this blatant abuse of power undermines Nigeria’s international standing. How can Nigeria claim commitment to gender equality in global forums while publicly persecuting its most prominent female politicians?

Disenfranchisement of half the population: Women make up nearly 50% of Nigeria’s population, yet their voices are being systematically erased from governance. A democracy that excludes half its citizens is no democracy at all.

There Is Still Hope: The Fight for Justice Is Not Just for Women

Amid this travesty, there is a glimmer of hope. There are men young and old, within and outside the Senate who are knowledgeable about human rights and democracy, who stand for justice, and who are willing to join right-thinking and progressive Nigerians in supporting Senator Natasha in this fight for justice.

This is not just a women’s issue; it is a national crisis that concerns every Nigerian who believes in fairness, equity, and democracy. The struggle for gender justice must be fought by all who envision a Nigeria where competence, character, and contribution—not gender—determine leadership.

We Must Resist

Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF) vehemently condemns the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the shameful political bullying orchestrated against her. We call on all Nigerians especially women and progressive men to resist this injustice.

The Senate must immediately reverse this suspension and respect the rule of law.

Human rights organizations must intervene to protect Senator Natasha’s rights.

Men who believe in justice must speak up silence is complicity.

Women must mobilize and reject political structures that continue to diminish their place in governance.

The Senate may have succeeded in silencing one woman for six months, but they cannot silence the voices of millions of women and men who refuse to accept a future where gender discrimination dictates political destiny.

Senator Natasha’s fight is the fight of every Nigerian who believes in justice, fairness, and a truly democratic future. And we will not be silenced.

Mabel Adinya Ade
Founder and Executive Director, Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF)
Writing from AAF Office, 8 Eket Close, Area 8, Garki, Abuja

Tales of the Unexpected, Part ll

By Olusegun Adeniyi

In a December 2016 piece titled ‘Tales of the Unexpected’, I used a ‘case study’ involving five scenarios to explain the Nigerian condition. And since every Nollywood movie must have a sequel, I crave the indulgence of readers to release ‘Part 2’ of that column today.

SCENE ONE: In the course of a break-in at a local branch of the Central Bank (not Nigeria), one of the robbers, holding a pump action gun, shouted: “Don’t move, if you don’t want to die. The money in this bank belongs to the government while your life belongs to you.” With that message, everyone in the banking hall lay down quietly. That was a “mind changing concept”.

When Mudashiru Obasa—who was removed as Speaker on 13 January 2025 by 36 out of the 40 members for alleged misconduct, abuse of office and financial impropriety—invaded the Lagos State House of Assembly last Thursday, his replacement, Mojisola Meranda, said he was acting a theatre. By Monday afternoon, it had dawned on Meranda that the forces bent on bringing Obasa back to office were not play-acting. Smelling the coffee, Meranda surrendered, and ‘King Obasa’ is now back on the throne! All the huffing and puffing of the past two months against a power-drunk presiding officer who has lorded himself over them for a decade have now been upended. After succumbing with tears, the Lagos State House of Assembly members now know that in Nigerian politics ‘two plus two’ does not always equal four. In our country, as Obasa has demonstrated, to adapt a popular saying, ‘one with God(father) is the majority’.

SCENE TWO: When a lady in the banking hall lay on the floor in a suggestively provocative manner that exposed too much flesh, one of the robbers shouted at her: “Please cover up! This is a robbery, not a rape operation!” That is called “being professional”.

The Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation recently presented its 2019 report to the National Assembly. It revealed that 178,459 firearms, mostly AK-47 rifles, were missing from various police formations nationwide. Some 3,907 assorted rifles and pistols could also not be accounted for as of January 2020. But the police high command, according to a Daily Trust report on Monday, has traced the development to negligence and poor knowledge of weapon handling by some of their personnel. Put simply, it is about lack of professionalism! While that may be true, it cannot be the only plausible official explanation for this malaise. “Countries that are experiencing conflict or widespread armed violence tend to lose control of ammunition in their national stockpiles, be it through theft, loss, or battlefield capture,” Conflict Armament Research, a UK-based non-profit organisation, once stated after revealing that many weapons recovered from bandits in Zamfara State belonged to Nigeria’s security forces. The federal government must fish out and deal with the rogue elements within these agencies who are selling weapons to criminals.

SCENE THREE: When the bank robbers returned home with the loot, the youngest of them (a graduate of a local university) asked the leader of the gang, who did not complete primary education, “Big brother, can we begin to count the money so as to ascertain how much we got from the operation?” He received an instant response: “You must be very naive! There is so much money in these bags that it will take us several hours to count. Just put on the television. It will not be long before we know from the news how much we took from the bank!” That is called “experience” which, as they say, is the best teacher.

Almost all the Senators who have spoken on the sexual harassment allegation by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio have been dismissive. Essentially because the allegation first came not on the floor of the senate but on television and only after Akpoti-Uduaghan had been dragged before the ethics committee. “The Senate does not conduct its affairs based on what is trending on social media,” chairman of senate committee on media and publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, said on Monday. “The only issue before the Senate is Senator Natasha’s non-compliance with the standing orders. All lawmakers are expected to speak from their designated seats, and any breach of this rule undermines order in the chamber.”

Even before Akpoti-Uduaghan formally presented her petition yesterday, I knew this matter would not go away quickly since it borders on alleged transactional sex. Nigerians enjoy such salacious stories. That perhaps explains why one of the most trending issues in the last two weeks has been the ‘bedroom cost’ of a Lamborghini between a female influencer and a top male musician. Yesterday, there was a public protest by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters who were later countered by pro-Akpabio supporters. From experience, no matter what happens on the streets, it is not too difficult to predict that at the end, it is God’s-Will that shall be done!

 SCENE FOUR: When the robbers had left the bank, the manager directed the supervisor to call the police quickly. But the supervisor said to him: “Not yet time for that! Let us take $1 million from the vault for ourselves and add it to the $7 million that we previously embezzled”. That is called “thinking outside the box” or to put it in the proper Nigerian lexicon, “applying wisdom”!

Following last Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed the recently elected local government chairmen in Rivers State to transfer power to Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) in their respective councils to prevent any vacuum. The apex court had nullified the local government elections conducted on 5 October 2024, effectively removing the chairmen and councillors across the 23 local government areas of the state. But the forces against the governor are not relenting and he knows. That perhaps accounts for stories about the State Chief Judge mooting the idea of going on leave for one whole year! Regardless of all pretensions to the contrary, the fight in Rivers State is not, and has never been, about principle or public good. It is a fight for supremacy between a godfather and his estranged godson, even when public opinion appears to be on the side of the latter.

SCENE FIVE: That night, there were media reports that $10 million was taken from the bank. Meanwhile, the robbers counted and counted and counted, but they could only find $2 million. Immediately sensing what must have happened, the near-illiterate leader of the robbery gang told his boys: “We risked our lives for only $2 million while bank manager took $8 million with just a stroke of his pen.” Lost in thought, he began to hum Fela Anikulapo’s famous song, ‘Authority Stealing’ until others joined him: ‘Armed robber him need gun/Authority man him need pen/Authority man in charge of money/Him no need gun, him need pen/Pen got power, gun no get/If gun steal eighty thousand naira/Pen go steal two billion naira…’

I doubt there is any admonition I have repeated on this page as many times as that by Laolu Samuel-Biyi that “If you want to keep hope alive in Nigeria, don’t look at the budget.” Yet, I find it difficult to keep my own counsel. Anybody who has tried a run-through of the 2025 budget cannot but see isolated billions of Naira in many MDAs that are not tied to any specific projects— funds that are going to ‘disappear’ by December before we introduce another cycle of money-sharing (that the budgeting process has become in our country) for 2026.

Not knowing what to write about this week, I decided to ‘improve’ on that bank robbery joke first deployed nine years ago. The ‘five scenes’ offer embedded lessons, even if in a perverse sense, about contemporary events in our country. If the task of modern politics, is “to tame the power of the state, to direct its activities towards ends regarded as legitimate by the people it serves, and to regularise the exercise of power under a rule of law,” according to Francis Fukuyama, the crisis of Nigeria today, in practically all spheres of our national life, is that the elite cannot see that it is ultimately in their enlightened interest to subscribe to such ideals. That then explains why wherever you turn in Nigeria today, what you find is a flight of common-sense.

 A day in Kebbi Tomato Farm

Armed with a ventilated plastic crate, each of the 600 young men and women (all wearing hijab uniforms) competed furiously penultimate Friday afternoon at the GB foods in Ngaski, Kebbi State. As they harvested tomatoes and I watched the workers (each of whom would be paid according to the number of crates they filled by the end of the day), I could see the opportunities for empowerment through agriculture that we have failed to harness in Nigeria. But first, what took me to the farm that also has a tomato paste factory?

On my way from China last October through Qatar Airlines, I met a young man at the airport in Doha who introduced himself to me as Tokunbo Aderibigbe, a media/communication manager for GB Foods. After the usual exchanges, Tokunbo said he would like me to see what they are doing with tomatoes at their agro-processing farm in Kebbi State. While I agreed to the idea, I said that for security reasons, my visit would have to coincide with whenever a government delegation visited the farm. So, when Tokunbo informed me two weeks ago that the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, John Enoh, was visiting their farm in Kebbi, I signed on to the trip. And I was impressed with what I saw.

Spanning 1,500 hectares, the farm boasts a 620-metric-tonnes-per-day processing plant that generates hundreds of direct jobs, which the company plans to double in the next expansion phase. By focusing on local production, GB foods and Tomato Jos, another leading company in the sector, are playing a key role in the reduction of our dependence on imported tomato paste. But much more importantly is how they are empowering smallholder farmers and creating employment opportunities for local people in the communities where they operate. On average, the number of casual workers engaged on the farm daily is put at about 1,200. Although one could see a heavy-duty tomato harvester machine on the farm, they chose to use the local people so that the community could own the project and in turn protect the farm—a very wise decision that has paid off.

Nigeria is reputed as the second-largest producer of tomatoes in Africa after Egypt and the 13th-largest in the world. But with only about 2.3 million metric tons of tomatoes annually, our country still depends on the importation of tomato paste, largely due to post-harvest losses and the number of inadequate processing facilities. Meanwhile, the trip to GB foods in Kebbi from Abuja took us on a 50-minute flight to the airstrip in Kontagora, Niger State, before a punishing four-hour journey that should ordinarily take no more than one and a half hours if the road were good. The MD of GB Foods, Vincent Egbe with whom I rode, explained the seasonal nature of tomato planting which also requires a specific climatic belt for it to grow and thrive. While the yield at their farm in Spain is 100 metric tonnes per hectare, for Nigerian farmers who rely on rudimentary methods, the yield is 5 metric tonnes per hectare. At their mechanised farm in Kebbi, they have already achieved 78 metric tonnes per hectare.

Tomato cultivation, as Egbe told me, requires a high level of sophistication. “It is an emotional plant that requires the right nutrients while the amount of water and fertilizer must be measured. The first 30 days determine the yield. Most Nigerian farmers plant directly in the absence of nursery (green house),” said Egbe who took me through the processes. “90 percent of tomato is water, so every seedling requires 180 litres of water minimum, and that is a challenge in our country. Four or five states in the north have the water but only three have other ingredients.”

In its August 2017 report, ‘Tomatonomics – Examining Nigeria’s La Tomatina Prospects’, Augusto&Co, a research and credit rating agency, wrote that despite “the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) ranking tomatoes as the vegetable with the highest priority in Nigeria, the annual import bill on tomato is close to $100 million, as over 750,000 tonnes is lost yearly to wastages.” The situation has since improved with some policy initiatives by the federal government. For instance, the National Tomato Policy (2022 – 2026) was designed to cut down on post-harvest losses and curb the import of tomato concentrates by increasing imports tariff from 5 percent to 50 percent and an additional $1500 levy per metric Tonnes. But there are challenges.

At a round table last October to enhance tomato productivity and reduce post-harvest losses, the National Tomato Grower’s Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, (NATPAN) president, Abdullahi Ringim, said the non-enforcement of ‘tomato levy’ has created a funding gap in the sector. He noted that some of the major inflationary costs of fresh tomatoes include the impact of pests and increased cost of transportation, among others. When you add insecurity in farming communities, high tariffs on machinery and spares, regulatory bottlenecks etc., one can understand the challenges faced by investors in the sector.

Despite these challenges, Enoh commended the efforts of GB foods given what he saw and experienced. But the trip was quite revealing in other respects.  On the tarmac in Abuja, as we were boarding, I noticed the man in the cockpit who was clad in kaftan. “Is that not Bala?” I asked to which I got an instant response from Tokunbo, “Yes, that is Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah.” Until 2023, Na’Allah represented Kebbi South Senatorial seat and was the Deputy Majority leader in the 8th Senate. Incidentally, GB foods is in his constituency. “Bala, is this your hustle now?” I asked the moment I entered the aircraft and in typical Nigerian fashion, Na’Allah replied with a question, “Is it not a legitimate hustle?”

Na’Allah’s story in the aviation sector started about two decades ago when his second son, now a captain, was then studying at Cape flying school, South Africa. The young man challenged the family at a breakfast table to go and learn how to fly if they considered it an easy vocation. As Na’Allah once told me, they took up the challenge and he secured admission at the Nigerian College of Aviation, Zaria while his late eldest son, Abdulkareem, went to Phoenix Aviation in Florida. His last daughter, Aisha, who was by his side in the cockpit on our trip two weeks ago, studied at the Aviation College, Ilorin and later in Florida. That was how they built a family of pilots. So smooth was our flight and flawless the landing that when we arrived back in Abuja, there was a spontaneous applause for the Na’Allahs from all of us. The message Bala Ibn Na’Allah, who is also a lawyer, sends to many of his colleagues is that politics should be a vocation. Not something on which to build their lives.

But back to GB foods . I believe that the federal government should assist such enterprises with special agricultural subsidies to reduce the cost of fertilizers, pesticides and other farm inputs. Addressing the challenge of regulatory bottlenecks that impede most businesses in Nigeria is equally important. We should also encourage other stakeholders to enter the sector. Interestingly, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo, has been sharing with me his vision of farm clusters across the country and with what I saw at the GB foods in Kebbi, I believe we can use agriculture to address the challenge of poverty, food insecurity and youth unemployment in Nigeria.

• You can follow me on my X (formerly Twitter) handle, @Olusegunverdict and on www.olusegunadeniyi.com   

Premiere Academy’s N500 Million Lawsuit: Advocacy under siege or defamation redefined? by Dooshima Charles

The N500 million defamation suit filed by Premiere Academy against Dr Lemmy Ughegbe, a journalist and a relentless advocate for child and gender rights raises concerns about the growing misuse of defamation laws to suppress advocacy. The case, stemming from Ughegbe’s demand for justice in the tragic death of 14-year-old Keren-Happuch Aondoodo Akpagher, has drawn significant public attention. It brings to the forefront an important debate: where does legitimate advocacy end, and where does defamation begin?

Dr Ughegbe’s reference to the school as a prime suspect while addressing lawyers at the NBA Law Week is the narrow issue for determination in the defamation suit filed by Premiere Academy. A criminal complaint against the school, filed by Keren’s mother, resulted in the interrogation and release on bail of Mr Chris Akinsonwon and Grace Salami. This is official. And it is a fact.

Keren’s mother, Mrs Vivien Akpagher, has openly questioned the audacity of Premiere Academy in suing. Expressing her disbelief and outrage, she stated, “Premiere Academy had the temerity to bring Lemmy Ughegbe to court—someone who is fighting for my daughter to make sure she gets the justice she deserves. I truly wanted to come and look at them face to face—the people that killed my girl—just to see how they live, how they function daily.”

In a recent opinion piece, published by Premium Times, titled Walking the Thin Line Between Advocacy and Defamation, Haroon Aremu Abiodun suggests that while advocacy is essential, it must not infringe upon reputational rights through unverified allegations. Haroon Aremu Abiodun’s piece pretends unsuccessfully to be concerned about advocates’ responsibilities to ensure factual claims whereas he preoccupied himself with totally obliterating “the Thin Line Between Advocacy and Defamation.” He attempted disguising the purpose of his piece, by cautioning advocacy to be hinged on facts. Despite his jaundiced piece, Abiodun’s caution is valid in principle. Regardless, its application to the case against Dr Ughegbe is flawed. The statements for which he is being sued are not baseless accusations, but legally sound assertions grounded in public records and legal frameworks. The public record is the petition filed by Keren’s mother alleging that her daughter was sexually abused in the school, where she was a boarding student. Under the legal framework, suspect is the nomenclature for the school so accused.   

To succeed in a defamation claim, the claimant must prove that a false statement was published to a third party, damaging their reputation, and made with actual malice or negligence. These elements, which courts have consistently upheld in cases such as Momoh v. Umoru (2011) LPELR-19708(CA), do not apply to Ughegbe’s statements. In Nigeria, a criminal complaint legally designates the individual or institution as a suspect. Dr Ughegbe’s reference to the school in this context is, therefore, not defamatory but a factual assertion grounded in legal precedent.

Premiere Academy’s own admissions in court have further undermined its defamation claim. At the Abuja High Court, the school’s representatives presented evidence confirming that the #Justice4Keren campaign has significantly affected its reputation and financial standing. Led in evidence by Barrister Olajide Kumuyi, Mr Chris Akinsonwon tendered a flash drive containing Dr Ughegbe’s speech at the 2021 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Law Week, where he urged legal professionals to demand justice. They also submitted three years of admission registers, showing a decline in student enrollment to only 59 new applicants in 2022. These documents, rather than proving defamation, highlight the fact that public sentiment—not false statements—has driven the school’s reputational decline.

The court’s approach to this case also raises troubling questions about judicial impartiality. At the last hearing, Justice Kayode Agunloye reportedly interjected to coach the plaintiff’s counsel instead of allowing them to respond independently to objections raised regarding the admissibility of documents. This level of involvement is contrary to the fundamental principles of judicial neutrality. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has, in cases such as Akinfe v. The State (1988) 3 NWLR (Pt. 85) 729, emphasised that judges must maintain objectivity and refrain from actively assisting one party over another. The English Court of Appeal, in Metropolitan Properties Co Ltd v. Lannon [1969] 1 QB 577, similarly re-emphasised the necessity of ensuring that justice is both done and seen to be done. Where a judge appears to favour one side, it casts doubt on the integrity of the proceedings and erodes public trust in the judiciary.

Beyond its legal and procedural weaknesses, this lawsuit represents a disturbing attempt to use defamation claims to stifle public interest advocacy. If allowed to stand, it would embolden institutions to deploy Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) as tools of intimidation. The N500 million damages claim against Dr Ughegbe is excessive and suggests a punitive intent rather than a legitimate attempt at redress. Nigerian courts have repeatedly rejected the misuse of litigation to suppress, as seen in Saraki v. Kotoye (1992) 9 NWLR, where the Supreme Court ruled that litigation should not be weaponised to frustrate legitimate rights.

The backlash against Premiere Academy’s lawsuit has only amplified the very issue it sought to suppress. This case is a textbook example of the Streisand Effect, where attempts to suppress information led to greater public exposure. Instead of shielding its reputation, Premiere Academy’s decision to sue Dr Ughegbe has intensified demands for accountability. This mirrors New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964), where the court ruled that public officials cannot use defamation laws to silence criticism on matters of public concern.

The N500 million defamation suit against Dr Lemmy Ughegbe is legally unsustainable, ethically questionable, and strategically counterproductive. It lacks the essential legal foundation required for a defamation claim, contradicts established judicial precedents, and undermines fundamental rights to free speech and advocacy. The school’s own submissions in court confirm that its struggles stem from public concern rather than any defamation. Instead of resorting to legal intimidation, Premiere Academy should engage in meaningful transparency and public accountability.

The courts must not allow defamation laws to be weaponised as a tool for silencing advocacy. The misuse of legal processes is evident in the case against Dr Ughegbe; dismissing it clearly signals that manipulating the law to shield institutions from public scrutiny is unacceptable. Furthermore, we should examine Justice Kayode Agunloye’s conduct in this trial to maintain judicial neutrality. If a judge appears to be coaching one side, it not only taints the case, but weakens confidence in the judiciary.

Dr Ughegbe’s courage in the face of this legal intimidation is commendable, and his advocacy serves as a powerful reminder that justice cannot be silenced. This lawsuit should be dismissed as the futile and desperate attempt it is. The #Justice4Keren movement will not be silenced, and no amount of legal intimidation will erase public demand for the truth. The legal system must remain a guardian of transparency and accountability, not a shield for institutions seeking to evade scrutiny. Let justice prevail, truth be upheld, and impunity never thrive.

Dooshima Charles, a gender activist, attends every court session and writes from Abuja

Matthew Akande, Mexico-based Nigerian fraudster nabbed in London, extradited to U.S. over $8.1 million benefits scheme

Security operatives in the United States have arrested and charged a Nigerian national who was accused of defrauding Americans in a sprawling benefits scheme.

An indictment unsealed Wednesday said Matthew Abiodun Akande, based in Mexico, was the ringleader of a syndicate that used the personal identifying information of Americans to request about $8.1 million in social benefits from the government.

A report by Peoples Gazette said that at least $1.3 million was received by Mr Akande, who appeared preliminarily in a Boston, Massachusetts, court on Wednesday.

Mr Akande, 36, was arrested at London Heathrow on October 24, 2024, and his extradition was completed with his transfer to Boston on March 5, the report quoted U.S. prosecutors to have said.

He used “fraudulent phishing emails to be sent to five Massachusetts tax preparation firms,” prosecutors said.

“The emails purported to be from a prospective client seeking the tax preparation firms’ services but in truth were used to trick the firms into downloading remote access trojan malicious software (RAT malware), including malware known as Warzone RAT,” they added.

Officials said Mr Akande “allegedly used the RAT malware to obtain the PII and prior year tax information of the tax preparation firms’ clients.”

Stolen funds were transferred to Mexico, with authorities identifying at least “1,000 fraudulent tax returns seeking over $8.1 million in fraudulent tax refunds over approximately five years,” adding that the fraudsters “successfully obtained over $1.3 million in fraudulent tax refunds.”

His co-conspirator, Kehinde Oyetunji, another Nigerian national, had previously been charged and sentenced to prison over his role in the vast scheme, which authorities said was carried out between June 2016 and June 2021.

Mr Akande faces several counts of stealing government funds and identity theft. He was summarily remanded in prison pending the appointment of an attorney and trial.

The case comes amid a flurry of high-profile prosecutions of internet fraudsters of Nigerian origin in the U.S. A senior Nigerian politician and a monarch were charged in separate fraud cases in recent weeks.

Peoples Gazette

Dismissal of Natasha’s Petition: A triumph of ignorance of the Senate Rules over ETHICS, Equity, Good Conscience and Natural Justice

By Tonye Clinton Jaja

Unwittingly, there is a new form of crime that is unfolding in Nigeria. It is the crime of speaking against the words or actions of any person holding any position of authority (regardless of whether the speaker has sufficient evidence to justify the said speech)!!!

Some examples are as follows:

In the month of December 2024, an activist Ms. Olamide Thomas was arrested, detained and charged to court for allegedly using uncomplimentary words against both the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and the son of PBAT.

In January 2025, Yeye Sowore was also arrested, detained and charged to court for using the phrase “illegal IGP”.

In February 2025, it was the turn of Dr. Reuben Abati, he had insulted the House of Representatives by using two words to describe the law-makers namely: “idiotic” and “stupid”. He was given 24 hours to tender an apology.

In this month of March 2025, it is the turn of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Her “crime(s)” is that she violated the Rules of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in terms of seating arrangements and speaking without the permission of the President of the Senate.

In her defence, Senator Natasha has alleged that she is a victim of sexual harassment against her person by the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Godswill Obot Akpabio-GOA.

Yesterday, Wednesday 5th March 2025, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made the decision to dismiss the petition of Senator Natasha on several grounds and refused to refer her petition for investigation to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Different Senators cited different rules of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 (as amended) to justify the decision.

Some cited Order 40 that says that the Senate cannot deliberate on any subject matter that is concurrently the subject of litigation in a court of law.

Others cited Order 10 of the Senate Standing Orders that says that a petition cannot be signed by a serving Senator but by the constituent who submits a petition through the senator that represents their senatorial district.

Unwittingly, in reaching this decision, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, did not avert their minds that Senator Natasha’s petition represents an unprecedented and novel situation that was never envisaged by the current Rules of the Senate.

The current Senate Rules only envisage a situation wherein public petitions are written and submitted to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions by members of the public (through the Senators representing their senatorial districts).

The Senate Rules did not envisage a situation wherein a serving Senator would be in need of submitting a public petition by themselves on an issue of PUBLIC INTEREST.

So the question arises: how does the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any other legislature for that matter handle any subject matter that is not provided for within its Rules.

“Rulings from the Chair” is the immediate solution, this is a process whereby the presiding officer of the said legislature has to make a pronouncement on the said subject matter and such a pronouncement is entered into the Hansard (the verbatim report of the proceedings of the legislature). From the date of such a pronouncement, it becomes the binding rule of the said legislature until whenever the Standing Orders or Rules of the said legislature is amended.

So this could have been applied to the petition of Senator Natasha.

In the opening hours of plenary on Wednesday 5th March 2025, the President of the Senate had already ruled from the chair when he tapped the gavel and admitted the petition as laid before the Senate, under the mace by Senator Natasha.

It is against parliamentary practice for the Senate President (or the Presiding Official to un-rule himself or herself) as was done by the Senate President.

This is because the petition of Senate Natasha represents a novel and unprecedented procedure wherein a serving Senator is submitting a petition against the Presiding Official on a matter that affects both herself and members of the Public.

The generally accepted authority on legislative practice and procedure is the British author, Erskine May, Parliamentary Procedure and Practice.

The law relating to “Rulings from the Chair” is described in details in the 25th Edition published in the year 2019 by LEXIS NEXIS.

“Erskine May is the authoritative book on parliamentary law and practice. It’s a description of how procedure in the House of Commons and House of Lords has evolved and the conventions that apply, rather than a set of rules.” Nigeria inherited both it’s legal and legislative system from the United Kingdom which is the basis of the book by Erskine May.

Overriding public interest, is another reason why the Senate ought to have considered and admitted the petition of Senator Natasha regarding her allegation of sexual harassment against the Senate President-GOA.

Since there is no clearly defined legislation on the subject matter or any provision on the subject matter inside the current Senate Rules, it was an opportunity for the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to set a precedent through an independent and impartial investigation!!!

Finally, by a combined reading of both the Standing Orders of the Senate, 2022 and the website of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

It is obvious that the jurisdiction of the said Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions is to provide equitable justice for members of the public (including any serving Senator) who believes that they are unable to achieve justice in the regular courts of law which are inundated with backlog of cases and technical rules of procedures which the ordinary Nigerian cannot comprehend or afford the services of a lawyer to pursue.

In light of the foregoing, Senator Natasha’s petition on sexual harassment was DELIBERATELY submitted to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and not to any court of law.

The very name of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions (which includes the words: “ethics” and “public petitions”) reveals that it is not a court of law and it does not apply the technical rules of regular courts of law.

The words “Ethics” deals with morality as opposed to Legalism and legality as administered by the court of law.

So the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions was the perfect forum for treatment of Senator Natasha’s petition against the Senate President bordering on sexual harassment.

I want to conclude this article by making reference to a somewhat similar case that was decided in favour of Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, who was then a law student at the University of Benin.

He was expelled by the authorities for his involvement in Students union activities.

He was not given fair hearing to plead his case by the University authorities.

It was a court of law that reviewed his case and ordered him to be reinstated as a law student which ensured that he graduated and is today a lawyer.

Bamidele & Ors v The University of Benin (1988), argued successfully by one Femi Falana, Esq, then with the unforgettable Alao Aka-Bashorun of Peoples Chambers, Lagos State.

Has Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB) forgotten this or is he more interested in protecting a group interest.

Even a former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki had advised that the petition of Senator Natasha should be allowed to undergo thorough investigation so as to salvage the reputation of the institution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

But what does he know?!!!!

What do we know as members of the public, does our interests count or is it just the interests of one individual and his cronies that will always triumph over the public interests in ethics!!!

It is for the foregoing reasons that our Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners-ALDRAP has written a formal letter to the Senate President to reconsider the stance on this matter, failing which we shall seek the interpretation and intervention of a court of law!

Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja,
Executive Director,
Nigerian Law Society (NLS).

Nigeria becomes sixth in global terrorism index, report says 565 killed in 2024

Nigeria has upped its place in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) to sixth position with a score of 7.658, moving up from eighth position in 2023 and 2024.

The latest report, released on 5 March 2025, ranked Burkina Faso as the most impacted country with a score of 8.581, followed by Pakistan (8.374), Syria (8.006), Mali (7.907), and Niger (7.776), which placed second to fifth, respectively.

Other countries in the top 10 most affected by terrorism include Somalia (7.614), Israel (7.463), Afghanistan (7.262), Cameroon (6.944), and Myanmar (6.929). The Democratic Republic of the Congo (6.768), Iraq (6.582), India (6.410), Colombia (6.381), and Russia (6.267) ranked from 11th to 16th.

The report documented 565 terrorism-related deaths in Nigeria in 2024, reflecting a continued increase in fatalities over the past two years.

“Globally, deaths from terrorism have declined by almost a third since the peak in 2015, with Iraq and Nigeria recording the largest decreases. Deaths in Nigeria peaked at 2,101 in 2014, before dropping to 392 in 2022, the lowest level since 2011. However, fatalities increased by 34 percent in 2023 to 533, and further to 565 in 2024,” the report stated.

The study also pointed to the growing influence of IS-Sahel, which has expanded its activities beyond the Liptako-Gourma region—the tri-border area of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—into Algeria, Benin, and Nigeria. The group was responsible for 16 attacks in Nigeria in 2024, along with 12 in Niger, six in Mali, and one in Burkina Faso.

Additionally, the number of countries affected by at least one terrorist attack rose from 58 to 66 in 2024, the highest figure recorded since 2018.

“Terrorism remains a persistent global threat, with 2024 marking another year of shifting patterns and evolving challenges. More countries experienced a deterioration in security, with 45 reporting an increased impact from terrorism, while only 34 saw improvements—the first time in seven years that more nations worsened than improved,” the report stated.

The Sahel region has emerged as the global epicentre of terrorism, accounting for 51 percent of all terrorism-related deaths in 2024, a nearly tenfold increase since 2019. Overall, conflict-related deaths in the region surpassed 25,000 for the first time since the inception of the index, with 3,885 attributed to terrorism.

“Five of the ten countries most impacted by terrorism are in the Sahel. Although Burkina Faso remains the most affected country, both deaths and attacks declined in 2024—falling by 21 percent and 57 percent, respectively. However, the country still accounted for one-fifth of all terrorism deaths globally,” the report noted.

The findings also underscored the fragility of counterterrorism progress, using Niger as an example.

“Niger recorded the largest increase in terrorism-related deaths globally in 2024, surging by 94 percent to 930 fatalities. This reversed the progress seen in 2022 when the country recorded the second-largest improvement in terrorism impact. The case of Niger suggests that the gains made in Burkina Faso may be temporary,” the report added.

Senate directs Natasha to tender written apology over allegations against Senate President Akpabio

Aside from a six-month suspension from all legislative activities, starting on March 6, 2025, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria also directed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central to to tender a written apology regarding her allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The recommendation was announced on Thursday during plenary by Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions.

The Senate also dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims that Akpabio had been silencing her in the chamber, labelling the allegations as baseless and frivolous.

Other key recommendations include: a six-month suspension from all legislative activities, starting on March 6, 2025; immediate return of all Senate property in her possession; and a directive prohibiting her presence in or near the legislative chamber during the suspension period.

But plucky Natasha walked out of the chamber declaring: “this injustice cannot be sustained.”

Sequel to the submission of her petition against the Senate President, social media users continued to express mixed reactions.

Natasha submitted the petition on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, following her allegations on Arise TV and resubmitted it on Thursday on account of discrepancies in the manner she submitted the first.

Netizens, however, have taken to social media to react to the petition.

Some users who took to X to react to the petition are of the opinion that Akpabio should temporarily step aside from his position as the Senate President to ensure a thorough investigation into the allegations, while others noted that the tone of his voice has softened following the petition.

Reacting to the development, @Cikings wrote, “So, he’s going to be a jury in his own case? Lol. Kindly do the ‘uncommon’ thing in Nigeria politics and step aside, sir!”

“The petition was against the Senate President and was presented to the Senate President who now referred it to the House Committee on Code of Conduct and Public Petitions. Why is he the maker and the checker? Something is wrong, and justice can’t prevail in such circumstances,” @Dunilove tweeted.

“Hope Akpabio does the right thing by stepping down as he can’t be a judge in his own case,” @Jpobiokafor wrote.

@Somadina_arthur tweeted, “Let the Senate President step aside.”

@Mekazynnaemeka2 wrote, “Mr. Senate President, you may consider stepping aside until the proper investigations are finished. Thank you and God bless.”

@Mzia0721 wrote, “Now he has reduced his tone, and not talking from his ass. Oga don humble by force!”

Another user, @Christo37688397, wrote, “I’ve never heard Akpabio’s voice in this humble manner. You and sexual harassment na mate!🤣.”

Contrary to previous reactions, some netizens threw their weight behind Akpabio, saying that he should not be crucified until the investigation into the allegations is concluded.

@Ovakiss tweeted, “But is it not the same woman who accused Rino Omokri of the same sexual harrasment in Aso Villa and turned out that Reno Omokri wasn’t even in Nigeria the day she said it happened. Let’s not crucify Akpabio on the altar of Natasha’s accusation.”

“Can Natasha prove it? If Akpabio, after the investigation, is found not guilty, then Natasha should be heavily penalised,” another user, @PaulEmmanu68682, tweeted.

Remi Tinubu backs Senate’s suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Following Nigeria’s Senate suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, for a period of six months, the First Lady, Mrs. Remi Tinubu, on Thursday announced that the Red Chamber remains a “matured” institution that must be treated with respect.

Natasha’s suspension followed the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which found her guilty of misconduct and failure to appear before the committee.

Speaking to journalists ahead of the International Women’s Day, Mrs Tinubu dismissed concerns over the Senate’s handling of the matter, insisting that lawmakers were “doing what is needful.”

She said the Senate should be a place of honour, not controversy, and urged Nigerian women to assert themselves in leadership roles.

“I know with what is going on in the Senate, you may say, why am I not taking oppositions? I believe that the Senate is doing what is needful, because that’s what it is. Is an inside place and it’s a matured chambers.

“We shouldn’t be hearing things like that. It’s a matured chamber, and it should be treated with respect. It’s an honour for you to be in that place alone.

“I was there for 12 years, even in my younger days, and I’m still trying to look young, but people compliment you all the time only that, women raise yourself, don’t be in a position that men will be talking to you anyhow. You can always shut them down before they start.”

Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, Mrs Tinubu celebrated the resilience and achievements of Nigerian women, acknowledging their progress over the years.

She praised figures such as Zuriel Oduwole, who has championed peace, and said Nigerian youths have the potential to excel.

She urged women to continue striving for success.

Senator Natasha’s suspension stems from allegations of sexual harassment that Akpoti-Uduaghan levelled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She accused Akpabio of obstructing her legislative motions, particularly those concerning the Ajaokuta Steel Company, and claimed he referred to her as a “nightclub girl” during a Senate session—a remark for which he later apologised.

Presenting the committee’s report during Thursday’s plenary, Chairman Senator Neda Imasuen stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan was found guilty of all allegations due to her non-compliance with the committee’s proceedings.

The panel also recommended that her salary and security details be withdrawn during the suspension period.

In addition to the suspension, the committee advised that Akpoti-Uduaghan issue a formal apology to the Senate for actions deemed disrespectful to the institution.

The Senate’s decision marks a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations against the Senate President.

Akpabio has consistently denied any misconduct, emphasizing his respect for women and refuting the claims as unfounded.

As a result of the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan will be barred from accessing the National Assembly premises, and her office will remain locked for the duration of the six-month period.