Category Nigeria News

The Supreme Court of Nigeria’s Federal High Court has dismissed a lawsuit brought against Senate President Godswill Akpabio that challenged the legality of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension for alleged misconduct.

Ovavu Illiyasu and nine others filed the lawsuit, but the judge decided against it because the plaintiffs lacked locus standi (legal standing) to bring the matter before the court.

The lawsuit, which was filed on FHC/ABJ/CS/654/2025, sought to determine Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s eligibility for suspension for a variety of reasons.

The plaintiffs, among other things, requested that the suspension be voided because they thought their Senatorial District would suffer and demanded that she be immediately called in for her immediate recall.

Justice Omotosho entered a judgment on Friday, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked the necessary locus standi to file the lawsuit. The lawsuit was later dismissed due to lack of merit.

Suspension and Resumption

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been suspended for six months, made her return to her seat at the National Assembly on September 23.

The Senate standing rules’ allegations that the suspension started on March 6 led to the suspension.

Despite this, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained her status as a senator, claiming that she had never had any shortcomings.

By removing her office’s door, which is located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing, the National Assembly restored her access to the building.

READ ALSO: Police Are Still Receiving Court Order Regarding Tinted Glass Permit.

During her suspension, the office was kept secret for six months. Alabi Adedeji, the deputy director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, unlocked the office to confirm her anticipated resumption of legislative responsibilities and official recognition of her official return to the National Assembly.

Her followers, who had previously attended a defamation case filed by Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello, applauded her return.

Her supporters celebrated her return as the Senate was currently in recess, putting an end to her suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed a lawsuit against her suspension and had previously vowed to resume her duties. The Senate decided, however, that the court case would not be decided until the woman’s suspension was resolved.

The Senate maintains that no administrative action will be taken until the Court of Appeal renders a decision, but the case is still being looked at legal.

The former’s $ 32.8 million fine and a number of compliance orders issued against the latter for alleged data privacy violations involving Nigerian users have been settled between the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja, who had earlier scheduled the hearing on NDPC’s preliminary objection to Meta and its motion to amend its court filings, was informed of the development by the parties’ legal teams.

The NDPC argued in its preliminary objection that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case and that Meta’s lawsuit was blatantly incompetent.

According to the Commission, Meta disregarded the guidelines for judicial review procedures set forth in Order 34 of the 2019 Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules.

The parties have “reached an advanced stage of settlement” in this case, according to Meta’s attorney, Fred Onwuobia, SAN, who urged the court to postpone the decision regarding the preliminary objection and the motion on notice to amend at the day’s proceedings.

He claimed that the parties have decided to settle and that settlement is the best course of action. He also emphasized that they “are afraid” that the decision will have an impact on settlement discussions.

He urged the court to postpone the hearing for a report on settlement, noting that “the draft terms of the settlement have been exchanged.”

Adedipe, SAN, confirmed Meta’s lawyer’s assertions, noting that “settlement discussions have significantly advanced.”

He urged the court to adjourn so that the parties could file a settlement agreement that the court would designate as “consent judgment.”

Justice Omotosho responded to the parties by saying that the court favors settlement and that he was reluctant to issue his decision.

He then adjourned until October 31, 2025, for either a decision or an adoption of the settlement terms.

The NDPC issued eight corrective orders in February of this year in response to allegations that Meta had broken the Nigeria Data Protection Act and had been fined $32.8 million.

The Personal Data Protection Awareness Initiative (PDPAI), a civil society organization, claimed Meta engaged in behavioural advertising on Facebook and Instagram without getting Nigerian users’ express permission, according to a petition received from the Commission.

The Commission charged Meta with, among other infractions, including failing to submit a 2022 compliance audit, breaking cross-border data transfer regulations, and processing data from non-users of its platforms.

However, Meta fought the conclusions and the procedures that led to the NDPC’s Final Orders through its lawsuit.

Meta argued in a March 19 motion that it was denied fair hearing and due process, alleging that the Commission had not given it enough notice or opportunity to respond prior to issuing the orders.

According to Meta’s lead attorney, Prof. Gbolahan Elias, SAN, the enforcement orders violate Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution, which the court is required to reverse.

Adeola Adedipe, SAN, the NDPC’s attorney, argued that Meta’s original summons and its accompanying statements were inconsistent, making the entire case ineffective.

He claimed that Meta is trying to use an amendment to replace its already ex parte reliefs with new claims, which the court rules.

He pleaded with the court to completely reject the application.

Onumonu, a forward for the Super Falcons, is retiring from football.

In response, Meta’s legal team requested on April 23 to have the initial statement changed to reflect the relief that was already stated in the summons, in an effort to harmonize the documents.

Prior to now, Justice James Omotosho, the presiding judge, had previously allowed Meta to start judicial review proceedings but had refrained from granting the request to suspend NDPC’s orders.

Six alleged illegal miners were paraded by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC)’s Niger State Command during a midnight raid.

The State Commandant, Comdt., addressed the Command Headquarters in Minna. According to Suberu Aniviye, the arrests were made at 12 midnight when the Corps’ mining marshals received reliable information about the large-scale illegal mining industry operations.

“Our team immediately jumped into action and apprehended six suspects at the scene. Additionally, Aniviye reported that they recovered nine motorcycles and a number of mining-related tools.

The Commandant cautioned those who violated the law to leave Niger State or face the full wrath of the law. He reiterated the Corps’ commitment to ending illegal mining in the state.

This is my final warning to illegal miners and all those engaged in illegal activities. The Civil Defense Corps will check them wherever they go in Nigeria, so they should relocate from the state. He reaffirmed that we will not allow people to divert the state’s mineral resources.

He also urged traditional rulers, political figures, and local stakeholders to support the Corps by organizing grassroots education about their subjects.

Governor Umaru Bago, according to him, has heavily funded state-funded infrastructure projects like roads and other social amenities. A few people “always enrich themselves illegally,” he continued, “These efforts must not be undermined by a few people.”

Read more about Tinubu’s visit to Plateau on Saturday for the mother’s burial of the APC chairman.

During the parade, Danmalam Hafiz, a representative of the newly established Petroleum and Environmental Degradation Association, addressed journalists as well.

The association, which was founded just two weeks ago in Abuja, explains Hafiz’s statement that it works with the NSCDC to combat illegal mining and other environmental issues.

“We have the goal of tackling environmental degradation as well as illegal mining,” says our leader. Representatives for all 36 states and every Niger State local government are already present. These “grassroots” members will act as our information hub, providing the Civil Defense Corps with intelligence, Hafiz said.

On Saturday, President Bola Tinubu will visit Jos, Plateau State, to pay his respects.

Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the president’s visit in a statement released on Friday.

According to him, “President Tinubu will travel to Jos to participate in Nana Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe’s funeral prayers.”

He explained that Professor Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, the All Progressives Congress national chairman, was the child of Mama Lydia.

At the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Church in Jos, Onanuga added, Tinubu would address leaders of churches throughout the North.

The President will then travel to Lagos the day after the engagements, the statement states.

Following the passing of his mother at the age of 83, Tinubu had earlier expressed his condolences to Professor Yilwatda.

He characterized Mama Lydia as a “woman of virtue who lived a life of service and community.”

The President urged the APC Chairman to accept her legacy and trust God’s will in the loss.

He prayed for the family’s strength to bear the agonizing loss and asked God for her soul’s repose.

Following his earlier decry of Plateau State’s constant killings earlier this year, Tinubu’s planned visit comes at a later date.

He decried a deadly attack in the Bassa Local Government Area in April that claimed more than 50 lives and destroyed homes.

He pleaded for strong political will to bring about the restoration of peace in the communities that are in the state of Caleb Mutfwang.

Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the chief of the naval staff, claimed that the Nigerian Navy had successfully fought off pirates and other maritime criminals, leading to a rise in oil production and increased security in the country’s waters.

The Naval Chief made the disclosure on Friday when he launched new projects at Zaria, Kaduna State’s prestigious Nigerian Military School.

Ogalla, a graduate of the Nigerian Military School Zaria, claimed that the Navy had “undeniable results” from its operations since he assumed command, noting that the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) had never experienced piracy since 2022.

“We made it clear from the beginning that we wanted to combat the criminal elements that were inseparably affecting our maritime environment.” And I’m proud to say that was accomplished. The improvements to oil production and the elimination of piracy in our waters are obvious, he said.

READ MORE: CDS Musa, Nigerians Must Unite to End Insurgency

He added that pirates, crude oil theft, and illegal refining have long threatened Nigeria’s economic lifeline, dissuading investment in the maritime sector, and piracy. The Navy has since reversed the trend thanks to more effective operations.

He explained that Operation Delta Sanity was launched by the Navy to end criminal networks and protect critical oil infrastructure in parallel with joint operations with sister services and maritime stakeholders.

“These actions have restored confidence in the maritime environment.” Nigeria is now seen as a safer maritime hub, with increased revenues and improved oil production. That’s why the work we’re doing is crucial, Ogalla said.

He added that fighting maritime insecurity is a national duty as well, as the protection of Nigeria’s oil assets directly affects economic growth and development.

By virtue of its mandate, the Nigerian Navy protects our maritime environment. That means protecting the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty at sea. Because oil is still our primary source of income, we are directly strengthening Nigeria’s economy, the CNS noted.

Ogalla emphasized that the accomplishments were attributable to the hard work of naval personnel spread across formations, whose sacrifices at sea had restored Nigeria’s waters to sanity.

“I applaud the brave officers and ratings who put in the effort.” Without their support, we wouldn’t be celebrating these accomplishments. The stability we now enjoy in our maritime domain is the result of their sacrifices, he continued.

He urged vigilantness throughout, noting that security forces must stay ahead through intelligence-led operations and technological advancements. Criminal elements frequently adapt.

In order to promote academic excellence at the university, the Naval Chief ordered six contemporary classrooms, each outfitted with smart boards and learning aids, while he was a student there.

“This intervention reflects my belief that learning must change with the times,” I said. According to him, these resources will give the boys the tools to excel academically and get ready for the future.

He also announced the start of new initiatives and pledged to strengthen military education between NMS and the Nigerian Navy Military School in Ikot Ntuen, Akwa Ibom.

The Ex-Boys Association continued to support the tradition of giving back while the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General O. O. Oluyede, was commended for the improvement of the Boys’ Lines and other NMS facilities.

Brigadier General Owoicho Ejiga, the NMS commander, described Ogalla’s visit as “a historic milestone” and said it would inspire the students and strengthen the institution’s commitment to excellence since its founding in 1954.