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Natasha: Appeal Court Strikes Out Akpabio’s Motions, Imposes N100,000 Fine

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The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has struck out two motions filed by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and awarded costs of ₦100,000 against him.

A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Hamman Barka, struck out the motions on May 21, 2025, following the request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The PUNCH a certified true copy of the ruling on Tuesday night.

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The motions, dated March 3, 2025, and March 25, 2025, and marked CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025, listed Akpabio as the appellant.

The respondents were Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuem.

READ ALSO: Courts Summon Akpabio, Nwaebonyi Over Natasha’s Rights Violation

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In the appeal, Akpabio sought the following reliefs: “An order of this Honourable Court enlarging the time within which the Appellant/Applicant may seek leave to appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu) delivered on March 10, 2025 on grounds of mixed law and fact as contained in the proposed Notice of Appeal.

“An order of this Honourable Court granting leave to the Appellant/Applicant to appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others. (Coram: Honourable Justice | Obiora Egwuatu) delivered on March 10, 2025, on Grounds of mixed law and fact as contained in the proposed Notice of Appeal attached as Exhibit B.

“An order of this Honourable Court enlarging the time within which the Appellant/Applicant may file their Notice of appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others. (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Egwuatu) delivered on March 10, 2025.

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READ ALSO: Natasha Fires Back At Akpabio, Denies Violating Court Order

“An order of this Honourable Court staying further proceeding in Suit No: FCH/ABJ/CS/384/2025 between Senator Natasha AkpotiUduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 3 Others. (Coram: Honourable Justice Obiora Egwuatu), pending the hearing and determination of the Appellant/Applicant’s appeal before this Honourable Court.”

The court, in its ruling, held, “Application seeking to withdraw the two motions dated and filed on 20/3/2025 and 25/3/2025 is granted and the motions are struck out.

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“Costs of ₦100,000 are awarded to the 1st Respondent. Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/395M/2025 to be deleted.”

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EFCC Arraigns Three Company Staff For Alleged Fraud Of ₦174m

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Uyo Zonal Directorate, has arraigned Akaninyene Enefiok Archibong, Sylvanus Edet Akpan, and Glory Enefiok Archibong before Justice Maurine Onyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday said they were arraigned on Friday, November 7, 2025 on twenty-two count charges bordering on stealing, conspiracy, money laundering and criminal diversion to the tune of ₦174,226,610 (One hundred and Seventy-four million, Two hundred and Twenty-six thousand, Six hundred and ten Naira).

He said, “One of the charges reads: “That you, Akaninyene Enefiok Archibong sometime between January and December 2022, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently took possession of the sum of ₦58,600,500.00 through your First Bank account number 3055162976, knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: stealing by conversion, contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

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Another count reads: “That you, Glory Enefiok Archibong sometime in 2022, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, took possession of the sum of ₦14,090,000.00 through your Zenith Bank account number 2256436893, knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.”

He said the suspects all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them

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In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Oluwatimileyin Faleye prayed the court to fix a date for trial to enable the prosecution to prove its case against the defendants.

However, defence counsel, Imeh Eduk and Ndifreke Inyangette sued for a short adjournment to enable them file formal bail applications for the defendants. They also made an oral application for the third defendant on the ground of being a nursing mother.

READ ALSO:EFCC Arrests CEO Over ₦2bn Ponzi Scheme

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After listening to both sides, Justice Onyetenu granted the third defendant, Glory Archibong bail in the sum of ₦30 million, with two sureties in like sum, and landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court.

The court ordered that Akaninyene Archibong and Sylvanus Akpan be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The case was adjourned till January 27, 2026, for bail hearing and commencement of trial.

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The defendants were arrested in Uyo, following claims of a petitioner, Mr Ubong Bassey Okon, Managing Director of Ubotex Nigeria Limited.

According to the petitioner, Akaninyene Archibong and Sylvanus Akpan, who worked in the company as cashier and auditor respectively, allegedly conspired and diverted company funds into personal accounts, by manipulating figures with forged authorizations on payment vouchers.

Investigations into the matter revealed that Akaninyene Archibong transferred portions of the stolen funds to his younger sister, Glory Enefiok Archibong, who played a critical role in laundering the said funds via property acquisition and constructions, aimed at concealing the source of the illicit funds.

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Man Axed To Death By Lover’s Children, Friends In Delta

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A man identified as Rossy Omatseye has been attacked and axed to death by the children and friends of his lover in Orerokpe Community, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident occurred on Monday, November 10, according to DAILY POST.

It was learnt that the deceased and his lover had an argument which led to his attack and death.

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When the children of his lover heard of the argument between him and their mother, they mobilized their friends and went to his house where they attacked and axed him to death on the spot.

READ ALSO:Police Arrest Suspected Cultists, Gun Peddlers In Delta

The deceased family members who are from Ekpan Community in Uvwie Local Government Area mobilized with their friends to avenge the death of their brother in Orerokpe Community.

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The incident caused serious tension but the Police has brought the matter under control.

Although our sources confirmed the violence, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, is yet to confirm the incident as requested by our correspondent in Warri.

 

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Four Sentenced To Death Over Kano Garage Owner’s Murder

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A Kano State High Court has sentenced four men to death by hanging for the murder of Rilwanu Ilyasu, known as Nanu, a mechanic who ran a garage at Farawa Layout in Kano.

The accused are Abubakar Sadiq (alias Alhaji Sallari), Abdulmajid Jibrin, Nasiru Sani, and Yusuf Sani.

Both were found guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide under Sections 97 and 221(b) of the Penal Code. Two other suspects, Nura Farin Boss and Dan Bayo, are still at large.

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READ ALSO:French Court Sentences Saudi Navy Officer To 10 Years For Rape

Barrister Safiya Yalwati, leading the prosecution, said the attack happened on the night of April 13, 2016, when the defendants entered Ilyasu’s home armed with an axe and other deadly weapons.

She added that the assault was motivated by suspicions that Ilyasu had tipped off NDLEA operatives, leading to the arrest of the first defendant and the seizure of illicit drugs and N27,000.

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The attack left Ilyasu with fatal injuries. The prosecution called eight witnesses and presented key exhibits, including the murder weapon.

READ ALSO:Danish Court Sentences Ex-minister To Prison For Child Abuse Material

After reviewing the evidence, the court sentenced the four men to death by hanging.

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Reacting to the ruling, the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Maude Kabir SAN, through his media aide Abubakar Tijjani Ibrahim, said the judgment reeflects the unwavering commitment of the Kano State Ministry of Justice to ensuring that justice is served in accordance with the law.

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