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Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has declared that her suspension does not affect her legitimacy as a lawmaker, vowing to continue serving her constituents until 2027 and beyond.

In a statement posted on her Facebook page, she described her suspension as a violation of natural justice, fairness, and equity, rejecting the Senate’s directive barring her from presenting herself as a senator.

“The illegal suspension does not withdraw my legitimacy as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I will continue to use my duly elected position to serve my constituents and country to the best of my ability till 2027 … and beyond,” she wrote.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, announced on Wednesday, came with restrictions on her public engagements as a senator, both locally and internationally. However, she has maintained that the decision does not diminish her mandate or her commitment to the people she represents.

The Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC) has designated Simon Ekpa, 14 individuals, and two entities for their alleged involvement in supporting terrorist activities and terrorism financing.

The committee directed financial institutions to freeze their assets and report any transactions linked to them to the NSC and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). The move aligns with Nigeria’s compliance with international standards on combating terrorism financing, as outlined in the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The designated individuals include Simon Ekpa Njoku, who reportedly operated multiple fundraising campaigns between October 2023 and September 2024 to finance attacks on government and security facilities in Nigeria’s southeast. Others named in the sanctions list are Godstime Promise Iyare, Francis Chukwuedo Mmaduabuchi, John Anayo Onwumere, Chikwuka Godwin Eze, Edwin Augustine Chukwuedo, Chinwendu Joy Owoh, Ginika Jane Orji, and Awo Uchechukwu, among others.

The NSC also listed two entities: Igwe Ka Ala Enterprises and Seficuvi Global Company, which were allegedly used to collect funds for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Biafran Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE). Additionally, Lakurawa Group, linked to the militant group Jama’at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal Muslimin (JNIM), was included for its alleged activities in Sokoto and Kebbi States, involving violent attacks, forced taxation, and ransom kidnappings.

Authorities have urged financial institutions to remain vigilant and report any suspicious transactions involving the designated individuals and entities.

The Supreme Council for Shari’a in Nigeria (SCSN) has defended the decision of some northern state governments to close primary and secondary schools during Ramadan, citing concerns for students’ well-being due to extreme heat in parts of the North.

In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, the council urged states such as Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa to follow the example, emphasizing that the move prioritizes students’ health and allows for proper religious observance.

The council dismissed objections from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs), asserting that state governments have the authority to set school schedules.

“This decision ensures continuous learning while preventing students from remaining idle for extended periods. It was carefully reviewed by the respective Ministries of Education and widely welcomed by parents,” the statement read.

SCSN also criticized threats of legal or industrial action over the closures, calling them unnecessary and a challenge to the authority of state governments.

“It is baffling that CAN, which remained silent during prolonged ASUU strikes that disrupted entire academic sessions, is now opposing a temporary, structured adjustment of just 25 school days,” the council added.

Citing the Education Law of January 1, 1964, the council emphasized that state governors have the exclusive right to determine school holidays, with the exception of Kogi State where the law does not apply.

SCSN further stated that CAN is not a stakeholder in northern states’ education policies, asserting that no government is required to seek external approval before making decisions that affect schools.

The council commended the affected state governments for prioritizing students’ welfare and called on other northern states to adopt similar measures. It also urged all stakeholders to respect the decisions of state governments and refrain from interfering with policies impacting students and their families.

The Federal Government has announced that all health facilities involved in organ transplantation in Nigeria must be registered and licensed before they can operate.

In addition to registration, these facilities are now required to set up independent Organ Transplantation Committees, separate from their medical transplantation teams.

The government also revealed that plans for a nationwide inspection of organ transplant facilities are underway. The inspection, aimed at accrediting and licensing the facilities, will be carried out by the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee (NTHISC).

Efforts are also in progress to establish a National Organ Transplantation Registry.

These updates were shared on Thursday in Abuja during the unveiling of the Standards and Guidelines for the Establishment and Coordination of Organ/Tissue Transplantation Services in Nigeria. The guidelines, developed by the Organ Transplantation Guidelines Panel under Professor Fatiu Abiola Arogundade’s leadership, cover key areas such as kidney, liver, eye tissue, hematopoietic stem cell (bone marrow), gamete and embryo donation, storage, and surrogacy.

The document also sets ethical standards for organ donation and transplantation, introduces mechanisms for donor protection, ensures informed consent, and outlines clear processes for organ allocation.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Adekunle Salako, emphasized the importance of the new framework, particularly in light of the rising cases of unethical practices in the sector.

“These guidelines provide a much-needed regulatory framework for organ transplantation. They aim to restore trust in organ donation in Nigeria by promoting transparency, accountability, and adherence to international best practices,” he said.

The Minister, represented by the Director of Hospital Services, Jimoh Salaudeen, highlighted the need for the guidelines, citing the exploitation of young Nigerians from poor backgrounds who have fallen victim to organ trafficking.

“These guidelines aim to restore trust in organ relations in Nigeria by promoting transparency, accountability, and adherence to international-based practices. This document is particularly important given Nigeria’s unique challenges. In recent times, we have witnessed troubling incidents of unethical organ harvesting and other excesses within the organ transplantation sector,” Salako added.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the reopening of the Ogbo-Ogwu Drug Market in Onitsha, Anambra State, following a one-month closure.

The South-East Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this on Thursday after a meeting with Anambra State government officials, led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Ben Obidike, and market leaders at the market premises. He confirmed that the market would resume operations on Friday.

Iluyomade stated that the decision followed persistent intervention by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and an agreement signed by market leaders to halt the sale of fake, expired, and substandard drugs.

“During the enforcement exercise that lasted three weeks, the agency uncovered 50 trailer loads of fake and expired drugs, a large volume of narcotics capable of destabilizing the country, and numerous drugs banned since 2007,” he said.

He emphasized that the market’s reopening would not stop ongoing enforcement operations, noting that 4,000 shops had been sealed for various violations and would only reopen after proper profiling.

Iluyomade further revealed that the confiscated fake and expired drugs were valued at over N1 trillion.

He commended Governor Soludo for his support in combating the sale of counterfeit drugs and acknowledged the cooperation of market leaders throughout the enforcement period.

Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Obidike, also expressed appreciation to NAFDAC on behalf of the governor and urged traders to strictly adhere to the terms of their agreement with the agency.