The senate has started investigating ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) for allegedly breaking the federal character rules.

The move follows a motion sponsored by Osita Ngwu, the senator representing Enugu west on Tuesday.

The motion was titled “urgent need to address systemic abuse and ineffective implementation of the federal character principle in Nigeria’s public sector”.

“The federal character principle, entrenched in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), mandates fair representation in federal appointments to reflect the linguistic, ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity of the nation,” Ngwu said.

“Section 14(3) and (4) of the constitution unequivocally stipulate that ‘no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or sectional groups’ should exist within the federal government or its agencies.”

The lawmaker said some MDAs have allegedly failed to comply with the federal character principle.

He listed the defaulting agencies to include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and its subsidiary, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC); the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); PENCOM; NDIC; the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA); the National Library of Nigeria (NLN); the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN); the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN); the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF); and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA).

He said the senate, “regrets that against the spirit of order 96(27)(b) of the senate standing orders 2023 (as amended) and sections 62, 88, 89, 14(3)-(4) and the third schedule part I C8(1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which bestows on its committee on federal character and inter-governmental affairs the power of legislative oversight in matters connected to the implementation and monitoring of the policy, it is deemed that various federal institutions, including NNPCL and its subsidiary, NUPRC, NAFDAC, NPA, PENCOM, NDIC, FUTA, NLN, SMEDAN, ECN, SMDF, NNRA have consistently failed to adhere to federal character mandates, often bypassing regulations in their recruitment exercise (evidence abound).”

He alleged that the agencies “have consistently failed to adhere to federal character mandates, often bypassing regulations in their recruitment exercises”.

Supporting the motion, Seriake Dickson, the senator representing Bayelsa west, called on President Bola Tinubu to back the senate’s efforts to fix recruitment imbalances in federal agencies.

“He is the leader and chief executive of the country; he should be told that this flagrant and widespread violation must stop,” Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa state, said.

“The national assembly is taking action, and he should throw his weight behind it. When the report is ready, he should be given a copy so that we can ensure fairness for all.”

Victor Umeh, the Anambra central senator, criticised the “intentional exclusion of certain regions, especially in federal appointments and infrastructure projects”.

“No part of Nigeria should be treated as an afterthought,” Umeh said.

The senate ordered its committee on federal character and intergovernmental affairs to investigate and report back within four weeks with the representatives of the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday set aside actions previously delivered against the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.

Subsequently, the appellate court, upon acknowledging the transmission of the case record to the Supreme Court, directed all interested parties to exercise caution, pending the hearing of their appeals at the apex court.

In a unanimous ruling delivered by a three-member panel of justices, presided over by Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewill, the court accepted the withdrawal of the application filed by the Kano State Government, following the transmission of the record of appeal to the Supreme Court.

During the resumed hearing on the enforcement of its earlier orders, counsel for the Kano State Government, Ibrahim Wangida, informed the court of a notice of appeal filed against the stay of execution issued on Friday, March 14, 2025.

Wangida stated that all necessary legal steps had been taken, including the transmission of the appeal record to the Supreme Court.

By implication, the transmission of the appeal record to the Supreme Court, in line with established legal precedents, operates as a stay of any further action on the Court of Appeal’s ruling of March 14, 2025.

Justice Abang, on Friday, March 14, 2025, ordered a stay of execution on an earlier judgment that validated the reinstatement of Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.

The judge also directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, as well as the sheriffs of both the Court of Appeal and the trial court, reverting to the situation before the trial court’s ruling delivered on June 13, 2024, in Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/182/2024.

Dissatisfied with Justice Abang’s ruling, counsel for the Kano State Government, Wangida, argued that the March 14 ruling constituted a grave error in interpreting constitutional provisions.

He maintained that an appeal had already been filed before the Supreme Court.

Responding to the notice of appeal, counsel for the appellant, Abdul Fagge (SAN), did not object, stating that the respondent acted within constitutional provisions.

The Kano State Government reinstated Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano, following the passage of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024.

The same law deposed Aminu Ado Bayero as the 15th Emir, along with four first-class emirs appointed by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Bayero, however, returned and took up residence at the Nassarawa mini palace in Kano under heavy security protection, while legally challenging his removal by the state government.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria failed to beat Zimbabwe in their sixth game of the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign.

Nigeria played a 1-1 draw with the Zimbabweans before a packed Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo on Tuesday.

A powerful header from Victor Osimhen was cancelled out by a late strike from Zimbabwe’s Tawanda Chiwenda to deny Nigeria a crucial victory.

The draw placed the Eagles fourth in Group C of the qualifier, with just seven points from six matches.

For the Zimbabwe tie, Eric Chelle, Super Eagles of Nigeria coach, named the same the line-up that started the team’s 2-0 win over Rwanda on Friday.

Victor Osimhen scored a brace in the previous game and retained his position alongside the trio of Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon.

Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi reprised their roles in midfield in front of an unchanged back four of Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, William Troost-Ekong and Bright Osayi-Samuel.

The Eagles picked up their dazzling performance where they halted last week. The team flooded the Zimbabweans with quick, vibrant attacking sequences in the early part of the match.

Washington Arubi, the Zimbabwean goalkeeper, produced a couple of impressive saves to keep Nigeria at bay.

The goalkeeper clawed out a swerving header from Osimhen before denying the striker a few minutes later with another acrobatic dive to save a shot fizzing into his top corner.

Then, Samuel Chukwueze’s shot sailed millimetres past the upright after a brilliant pass from Moses Simon.

Nigeria resumed dominance in the second half, but the breakthrough did not come until the 74th minute. Osimhen stole into the far post to head home a cross from Ola Aina.

The Eagles were riding the slim victory until Zimbabwe capitalised on a defensive lethagy to wrestle in an equaliser through Chiwenda.

In other matches in the group, South Africa defeated Benin Republic 2-0, and Rwanda drew 1-1 against Lesotho.

GROUP C STANDINGS AFTER SIX GAMES

South Africa — 13 points
Rwanda — 8 points
Benin Republic — 8 points
Nigeria — 7 points
Lesotho — 6 points
Zimbabwe — 4 points

George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), says President Bola Tinubu is committed to addressing challenges in policy execution across government institutions.

Akume spoke on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ validation session on the ‘Draft National Policy Development and Management Framework’, in Abuja.

The event was organised by Hadiza Bala Usman, special adviser to the president on policy and coordination.

The SGF noted that the current administration recognises that effective governance depends on structured and well-implemented policies.

Akume said the lack of coordination among ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) has been a major hindrance to Nigeria’s policy management and national development.

“Over the years, one of the recurring challenges of policy management in Nigeria has been the lack of coherence and consistency across ministries, departments, and agencies,” he said.

“Fragmentation, duplication, and sublimation have often resulted in inefficiencies, slowing down the implementation of critical interventions that should otherwise accelerate national progress.”

The SGF described the Draft National Policy Development and Management Framework as a crucial step toward ensuring policies are not only well-formulated but also effectively implemented, monitored, and adapted to evolving national needs.

“This Draft National Policy Development and Management Framework is a bold step towards addressing these challenges,” he said.

“It offers a systematic approach to policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation- -one that is informed by international best practices, yet deeply rooted in the Nigerian context.

“Indeed, policymaking is not a theoretical exercise; it is a practical tool for governance, the mechanism through which governments translate national aspirations into concrete actions.

“A robust policy framework must not only define priorities but also provide planning and implementation pathways, assign institutional responsibilities, and establish mechanisms for tracking impacts.

“This is what distinguishes a well-governed nation from one where policies exist only in name.

”That is why today’s session is crucial — it is an opportunity to define this framework into an instrument that will endure, ensuring that public policy is driven by data, aligned with national goals, and responsive to the dynamic needs of our people.”

Tayo Aduloju, chief executive officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), also spoke at the event, highlighting Nigeria’s history of well-designed but poorly executed policies.

“Seven out of ten policies created between 1990 and today, by our own rough estimation and the NDSG, failed to achieve 100 per cent of their impact,” he said.

“In 90 per cent of the cases, it’s not really bad policy; the problem is bad policy execution.”

Other key stakeholders at the session included Ayo Omotayo, director-general of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS); Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner, represented by William Robinson; and representatives of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas.

A 37-year-old woman, Linda Stephen, on Tuesday, approached a Kaduna Customary Court, seeking divorce over her husband, Felix Stephen’s excessive sexual demands.

In her petition, Mrs Stephen, a resident of Ungwan Sunday in Kaduna, also accused her husband of beating her whenever she rejected his sexual advances. They have been married for six years.

She told the court that she was no longer interested in the marriage as she can no longer cope with the husband’s excessive demand for sex.

“I urge the court to dissolve this marriage because I can’t stand his excessive sexual urge. He likes sex too much, and I can’t bear it.

“Most times, he would have sex with me from midnight till early hours of the morning. Even when I am crying, he will not stop.

“It has been three months since I moved out of his house, his relatives have been pleading with me to go back to him, but they do not know what I am facing,” she said.

She further said that her husband does not control himself whenever he needed sex, and that whenever she refused his sexual advances, he would beat her up, even in front of their two kids.

‘I’m ready to control my urge’ -Husband

Stephen, in his response, told the court that he is in love with his wife.

He pleaded with the court to help him pacify her, and not to grant her wish.

Stephen said he had been pleading with her wife not to seek for divorce, as he was now ready to control his sexual urge.

“I took my uncles and friends to her parents house to plead with her. But she refused to listen to us instead she walked out on us,’’ Stephen said.

He further pleaded with the court to give him time to sort things out and reconcile with his wife.

The judge, John Dauda, adjourned the matter until May 6 for a feedback and outcome of the reconciliation, while advising them to maintain peace.

…alleges he was found guilty of fraud by US Supreme Court

The suspended senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has filed a petition to disbar the chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petition, Senator Nedamwem Imasuen, and have his name removed as a lawyer.

In the petition she filed before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), the Kogi lawmaker alleged that the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, had on May 10, 2010, indicted and debarred the Senate Ethics committee chairman “for fraud, misappropriation of client’s funds and failure to respond to disciplinary authorities”.

To back her allegation, the petitioner tendered to the LPDC a copy of the Justia New York Case Law 2010, with the title ‘Matter of Imasuen.

She equally pledged to “lead further evidence from official records of the respondent’s disbarment at the trial of this case”.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan told the LPDC that the respondent’s disbarment by the US court followed a complaint that was lodged against him by one Daphne Slyfield, a client who paid substantial legal fees to him but was abandoned without legal recourse.

“The court found that the respondent had violated multiple professional rules, resulting in the permanent revocation of his legal licence in the US.

“That following the respondent’s disbarment, he relocated to Nigeria, continued to present himself as a legal practitioner and pursued a career in politics, eventually securing a seat in the National Assembly as the senator representing Edo South Senatorial District.

“Despite this disbarment, which was hinged on unethical conduct, the respondent failed to disclose this sanction, both in the legal profession and political space, as a senator, and was eventually made the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, a position requiring unimpeachable integrity.

“That the Respondent did not remotely disclose his disbarment either in his Form EC9 – particulars of personal information submitted to INEC on oath at the time of aspiring for public office,” the petitioner added.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said her petition to the LPDC arose from a sequence of events that call into question the integrity and ethical standing of the respondent.

She alleged that Senator Imasuen had, in an attempt to expose the judiciary to odium and disrepute, publicly spurned an interim order the Federal High Court in Abuja made on March 4, which stopped his committee from proceeding with a disciplinary action that was initiated against her.

She maintained that the respondent, who was duly served with the interim order, acted in contempt of court by slamming her with a six-month suspension.

Details later.

The spokesman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chinedu Ukadike, has said the halt in the naira-to-crude deal between Dangote Refinery and the federal government was caused by speculations.

Naija News reported that Dangote Refinery announced it was halting its petrol sales in price as the duration of the naira-to-crude deal it entered with Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had elapsed.

Speaking in an interview with News Central, on Tuesday, Ukadike stated that market jobbers who did not want the importation of petrol products to stop were responsible for the speculation leading to a halt in the naira-to-crude deal.

The IPMAN spokesman explained that the government was looking at why crude oil would be sold to Dangote in naira when imported products can be sold at ₦775.

He, however, faulted the speculation, noting that no importer sold the product at such a price. He said only Dangote sells products cheaper than all others.

His words: “The federal government stated their challenges of not having enough for domestic supply, as a result of their international commitment and how they have locked up the sales of crude to some international buyers.

“This issue of naira-to-crude was just a test run and expressly approved by Mr President to be able to ensure that the product cost is a little bit more cheaper than the one that is been imported.

“It was also reported last two weeks that imported products can be sold at ₦775. If that be the case, federal government is also looking at why were we supplying Dangote product in naira and imported product is being sold at ₦775.

“Although it was speculated, none of the importers have sold product at that cost. Dangote remains the only refinery that sells petroleum product cheaper in all ramifications, even those that are being imported.

“Most of those speculations are being thrown into the market by market seekers and jobbers who don’t want to see reverse in importation of petroleum product. But definitely, we find out that within this week under review dollar has increased. So one little policy has changed the narrative and changed the pump price.”

Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has clarified that he never had four wives at the same time.

He explained that he was married to two women but lost them and then married another two.

Featuring in a recent episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, the actor stated that he is “lucky” with polygamy because his wives and children are understanding.

He, however, said he is not advocating for polygamy, as not everyone could be as lucky as he is.

Kosoko said, “I didn’t have four wives at the same time o! Don’t get it wrong because people are not getting it. I had two, I lost them. I married another two.

“I am not supporting polygamy. Not everybody can be this lucky. Do you know that in some polygamous homes, you have mothers with different children, and your own daughter’s or child’s birthday is tomorrow? Fortunately, we celebrated it elaborately. But when it comes to another child’s birthday, and I am not buoyant enough, my children and their mothers understand that with me.

“If it’s your birthday and I have money, I will do it. If your own comes when I don’t have money, that’s your fate. It’s a matter of luck with me. But you must have shown them that you love them all. You must have given them that love in other ways, so when it’s not coming at that material time, they will easily understand.

“Another one will tell me, ‘Daddy, anytime you get money, you still need to buy me something for my birthday.’ I will say, ‘By God’s grace, remind me.’ And when the money comes and they remind me, I give them what they ought to have gotten for their birthday.

“But don’t tell me that because I bought something for your co-wife’s son, I must also buy for your son. If you do so, you lose it. I won’t buy. That’s not the way I operate.”

Nigerian singer Cynthia Morgan, now known as Madrina, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to implement urgent measures to address the excruciating hardship in the country.

She stated that she was among those who applauded President Tinubu when he removed the subsidy on petrol, but the current hardship resulting from the subsidy removal has become unbearable.

Speaking in a video message shared via her TikTok page recently, Madrina said, “Are you guys feeling what I am feeling? I’m not even going to lie, I’m feeling it o! And it’s quite unfortunate that we might not be able to do much other than plead with the government. Because spending over $8 billion on subsidy doesn’t make any sense.

“From my findings, the total annual revenue for Nigeria in 2023/2024 was around 20-something billion dollars. So imagine spending $7 billion on subsidized petroleum products. It doesn’t make any sense.

“I was one of the persons who applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the removal of the fuel subsidy because you know what it is. But currently, I don’t think we have what it takes to live totally off subsidy removal on petroleum products.

“We don’t have the structures or anything to be able to sustain that. And that is why there’s inflation. The price of petrol controls 90 percent of every other commodity in the market. Also, the exchange rate of the Naira to the dollar has increased because what we import is higher than what we export. Right now, the GDP per capita is $860.

“We are going to be begging [the government]. I don’t think we have the right to protest or insult anyone in government. The introduction of the subsidy on petrol started with former President [Olusegun] Obasanjo, which for me was lackadaisical because, as a president, you’re supposed to handle things head-on and not try to… I can’t remember the word right now.

“So, that’s what President Tinubu is trying to do. He is trying to approach it the way it is. Because the money that we spent on subsidized PMS is a lot—enough to do many things. If we are able to invest it in other areas of the country, we will be a better nation. I don’t think it’s a bad idea, but we are not ready. We can’t do it. 100 percent subsidy removal will not work. People are hungry. Crime rates are increasing.

“But please, let’s not rant. Let us do a begging challenge. Let’s beg the government to help us, that they shouldn’t be angry. Maybe we have been irresponsible. Let the government roll back at least 50 percent of the subsidy removal. That’s my stance.”

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has stepped down from a case involving suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Justice Egwuatu was assigned to hear the suit, but on Tuesday, he announced that he would no longer handle the matter.

He made this decision after Senate President Godswill Akpabio wrote a petition questioning his impartiality.

Although the case was scheduled for hearing, when the court clerk called it up, the judge ruled that he was stepping aside.

He said he would return the case file to the Chief Judge, who would assign it to another judge.

On March 4, Justice Egwuatu issued an interim order stopping the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Akpoti-Uduaghan.

She was accused of violating Senate rules.

The judge ruled that the disciplinary process should not continue until the case was decided.

He also gave the defendants 72 hours to explain why the court should not stop them from investigating the senator without following the rules laid out in the 1999 Constitution, the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

Justice Egwuatu allowed the senator to serve legal documents on the defendants using substituted means.

The court ordered that the documents be given to the Clerk of the National Assembly or pasted at the National Assembly premises.

They were also to be published in two national newspapers.

The interim order came after the senator filed an urgent application.

However, despite the court’s ruling, the Senate Committee still held its meeting and suspended her for six months.

Later, after the defendants applied, Justice Egwuatu amended his earlier order.

He removed the part that prevented the Senate from taking any action while the case was ongoing.

Meanwhile, Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, questioned the court’s authority to interfere in Senate affairs.