Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Senate holds a special session on Wednesday to honour Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on July 13 in London after a prolonged illness.

The session is dedicated to paying tribute to Buhari’s legacy and his contributions to national development. It follows a similar event held last week by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja.

During the FEC session, President Bola Tinubu praised Buhari’s leadership style, describing him as a leader who governed with dignity, showed restraint, and bore the burdens of office without complaint.

Buhari was laid to rest in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, in a ceremony attended by dignitaries from within and outside the country.

The late president, born in Katsina State, served as Nigeria’s elected leader from 2015 to 2023. He had earlier ruled as a military head of state from 1983 to 1985, making him the country’s second-longest-serving leader.

There was a dramatic scene at the entrance of the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Tuesday as security operatives barred the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from accessing the premises.

Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the gate accompanied by activist Aisha Yesufu, rights advocate Mama P, activist Randy, and a crowd of supporters. However, security personnel stationed at the entrance refused to grant them entry.

Aisha Yesufu confronted the officers in an attempt to intervene, questioning the directive reportedly issued to prevent the senator’s access.

“National Assembly is meant to be for everyone. Why are you stopping us? We are not abiding doesn’t mean we are cowards,” Yesufu said.

Tensions escalated as some supporters began chanting “Push!” while attempting to force their way through the security blockade. The group was later seen marching toward the complex in protest.

Addressing journalists after being denied entry, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed frustration over the Senate’s refusal to allow her resume legislative duties, despite a recent court ruling in her favour.

“It’s about me, a duly elected senator walking into the chambers to resume my constitutional duties,” she said. “I had duly notified the Senate through two letters that I would be resuming functions today, July 22nd, 2025.”

She raised concerns about the Senate’s alleged disregard for the court ruling and the overwhelming police presence at the gate.

“The number of armed policemen we met outside, all well-kitted with guns, charging at an unarmed female senator, was shocking. We have people here—credible Nigerians—who witnessed this,” she stated.

Akpoti-Uduaghan also criticised attempts to misrepresent the court’s ruling in the media.

“There’s been some conversations in the media by their own team trying to twist a narrative that the judge did not order my reinstatement, and I’d like to clarify that,” she said.

Retired police officers under the aegis of the Kwara State Chapter of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (ARPON) staged a peaceful protest in Ilorin on Monday, calling for their immediate exemption from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

The retirees described the scheme as problematic since its inception and argued that police personnel on the CPS should be exited from it, just like senior officers who attained the rank of General-equivalent in the force and are currently exempt.

They called for the establishment of a dedicated Police Pension Board to manage the pensions and gratuities of police personnel, similar to structures in place for other security agencies.

During the protest, the former officers carried placards with various inscriptions, including: “President, NASS and IGP should honourably exempt the police from the CPS,” “Establish Police Pension Board to manage gratuity and pensions,” and “Mr President: Improve Police Welfare for Effective Service Delivery.” One of the placards also read: “If CPS is so good, why did AIGs, DIGs, and IGs exempt themselves from the scheme?”

The group also urged the federal government and the National Assembly to fast-track the legislative process for the disbursement of the N758 billion pension shortfall owed to security agencies. According to them, payment had earlier been scheduled for June 2025, but there has been no update, causing further distress to retirees.

They appealed to the National Assembly to expedite action to ease the hardship faced by retired police officers and enhance welfare for both serving and retired personnel.

The Federal Government has announced a 30-day emergency repair timeline for the damaged Keffi flyover in Nasarawa State, following the collapse of one of its beams caused by a collision with an overloaded trailer.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this during an inspection of the site on Sunday. According to the minister, the incident occurred on Thursday, July 17, 2025, when a trailer transporting an excavator struck the structure, dislodging one of the flyover’s beams and severely damaging two others.

A statement issued by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, confirmed that the accident resulted in the deaths of two persons, while two others sustained serious injuries.

Following a preliminary assessment conducted by officials of the Ministry of Works, including the Permanent Secretary, Olufunso Adebiyi, and senior engineers, a section of the bridge was immediately closed to traffic to prevent further damage and ensure public safety.

Umahi said CGC Nigeria Limited, the contractor handling federal road projects in the Federal Capital Territory, has been directed to commence the redesign and casting of a new beam to replace the damaged component.

“The process is expected to take approximately 30 days, after which a strength test will be conducted before reinstallation,” he stated.

The minister assured that all necessary measures would be taken to restore the structural integrity of the flyover and reopen it to the public as soon as possible.

Former presidential aide and media personality, Dr. Reuben Abati, has criticised British Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, describing her as a hypocrite over her recent comments on Nigerian citizenship.

Badenoch, who currently serves as a senior UK government official, had stated during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Sunday that she is unable to pass her Nigerian citizenship to her children due to her gender. She used the example to highlight what she described as restrictive immigration laws in countries like Nigeria, compared to the UK, which she said immigrants often exploit.

Reacting to her comments on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, Abati said Badenoch was attempting to be politically correct while benefiting from hard-right rhetoric in the UK.

“She has positioned herself as an ultra-Conservative figure, often using anti-immigration rhetoric to appear more British than the British,” Abati said.

He questioned Badenoch’s sincerity, noting that her criticism of Nigeria was inconsistent with her desire for her children to acquire Nigerian citizenship.

“It is the height of hypocrisy that she wants her children to be Nigerian citizens while simultaneously denigrating the country,” he added.

Badenoch’s remarks have sparked widespread debate, particularly among Nigerians in the diaspora, with many questioning the motivations behind her comments and her stance on dual citizenship and immigration.

Scores of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in support of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The mass defection took place in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area, where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan formally received the new members into the PDP fold.

Among the defectors were former Okehi Local Government Chairman, Hassan Yusuf; Special Adviser to the Council Chairman, Hajia Rafatu Haruna; and a prominent APC stalwart, Omuya Longman. They were joined by their supporters across various wards in the area.

Addressing the gathering, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that grassroots engagement remains central to her political approach. She stated that the ongoing mobilisation efforts are aimed at strengthening the PDP in Kogi Central and positioning it as an unbeatable force in credible elections nationwide.

“My responsibility is to strengthen the PDP and bring more people into our fold,” she said. “We are not just building a party in Kogi Central; we are contributing to the national strength of the PDP.”

The senator also expressed optimism for a future where political parties in Nigeria are clearly defined by ideology. She warned that the absence of such principles often leads to the use of violence and intimidation in the political space.

Kogi State PDP Chairman, Enemona Anyebe, hailed the development as a strong vote of confidence in Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s leadership and described the defections as a significant boost for the party in the state.

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has issued a warning to the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, stating that the former Anambra governor must obtain security clearance before any future visits to the state.

Governor Okpebholo made the remarks on Friday while receiving Marcus Onobun, the last opposition federal lawmaker in Edo, into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He criticised Obi’s recent visit to Benin City on July 7, during which the former presidential candidate donated ₦15 million to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences for ongoing projects.

“That man who says he has no ‘shishi’ came and dropped ₦15 million. Where did he get it from? After he left, three people were killed. For this reason, Obi must not come to Edo without security clearance,” the governor stated.

Okpebholo linked Obi’s visit to a reported resurgence of violence in the state and warned that such developments would not be tolerated.

Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, on Friday made his first appearance in court as a lawyer, marking his official entry into legal practice after years in politics and public life.

Melaye, dressed in full legal regalia, appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite at Court 8 of the Federal High Court in Abuja. He announced his courtroom debut via a post on his verified Facebook page, writing: “Senator Dino Melaye at the Federal High Court Abuja today. Appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite of Court 8.”

The former lawmaker was among over 5,000 new lawyers called to the Nigerian Bar in early July, following the completion of his law degree at Baze University, Abuja.

Melaye, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), represented Kogi West Senatorial District during the 8th National Assembly. He also previously served in the House of Representatives.

His courtroom appearance marks a new phase in his public career, which has included roles as an activist, reality television participant, and high-profile politician.

President Bola Tinubu on Friday arrived in Kano State to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late elder statesman and businessman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, who passed away in June.

The President’s aircraft landed at the Aminu Kano International Airport around 3:00 p.m., where he was received by top government officials, including representatives of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Spokesman to the governor, Sunusi Bature, had earlier confirmed on Thursday that President Tinubu would be visiting the state to commiserate with the Dantata family and the people of Kano over the businessman’s passing.

Dantata, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist, died at the age of 94 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Until his death, he was widely respected for his contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s economy through investments in real estate, agriculture, and commerce. He was also well known for his charitable initiatives and was an uncle to business magnate Aliko Dangote.

The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed that Mr. Ezekiel Adeniran, Registrar of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State, was assassinated.

The 41-year-old was found dead in his residence in Akure, the state capital, in the early hours of Thursday. Adeniran was appointed registrar of the institution in January 2025.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Olayinka Ayanlade, described the death as a clear case of assassination.

“The man died in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday). I can confirm to you, this was reported at Fanibi Division. I can confirm to you that the man was killed,” Ayanlade said.

He added that preliminary information indicated that two unidentified men emerged from a bush and forcibly administered a substance to another individual. However, the exact location of the incident remains unclear.

“Our main focus is to unravel who is responsible for his death. We are doing everything possible to uncover the truth behind this case,” Ayanlade stated.

The police spokesperson also urged members of the public with any relevant information to come forward, assuring that all tips would be treated with strict confidentiality.

Meanwhile, the management of UNIMED has confirmed the incident. In a statement signed by the institution’s Head of Media and Protocol, Mr. Isaac Oluyi, the university expressed shock over the registrar’s sudden death.

“The devastating news has thrown the university into mourning, as it was shocking! He was still at his duty post on Monday, 14th July, 2025. As at the time of writing this statement, the cause of his death is yet to be ascertained,” the statement read.