News
Withdraw Bill To Regulate Bloggers, SERAP Tells Akpabio, Abbas

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has asked the leadership of the National Assembly to reverse what it terms as “repressive bill” to regulate the activities of bloggers in Nigeria.
In a letter dated April 12 2025, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation asked the legislative body to withdraw the bill or face legal action.
The organisation urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to immediately withdraw the bill to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, which seeks to regulate the activities of bloggers within the ‘territorial boundaries of Nigeria.’
SERAP urged Akpabio and Abbas to ensure that any amendment to the Nigeria Data Protection Act promotes and protects the rights of bloggers and other journalists and does not undermine the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.
READ ALSO: SERAP Kicks As Bill To Jail Nigerians Who Don’t Vote Is Proposed
It urged the assembly leadership to end the imposition of unnecessary restrictions on the rights of Nigerians online and on Internet-based content.
The contentious bill is titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to Mandate the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Territorial Boundaries of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms and for Related Matters”.
The bill, among others, seeks to regulate bloggers by requiring all bloggers to register at local offices and join recognised national associations for bloggers.
The bill has passed its first and second reading in the Senate.
READ ALSO: ‘It’s Patently Unlawful,’ SERAP Sues Akpabio Over Natasha’s Suspension
The letter reads, “This bill is a blatant attempt to bring back and fast-track the obnoxious and widely rejected social media bill by the back door.
“If passed, the bill would also be used to ban major social media platforms—including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and independent bloggers if they ‘continuously fail to establish/register and maintain physical offices in Nigeria for a period of 30 days.’
“Lawmakers should not become arbiters of truth in the public and political domain. Regulating the activities of bloggers and forcing them to associate would have a significant chilling effect on freedom of expression and lead to censorship or restraint.
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“The bill may also be used to block access of Nigerians to social media platforms. Blocking access to social media platforms is a flagrant violation of fundamental rights.
“In addition to infringing on Nigerians’ right to access to information and digital technology, the proposed bill would also severely hamper business operations in the country, as many are reliant on foreign tools, services and technologies for their operations, as well as other sectors that rely on online information.
“The bill would force international tech companies out of the Nigerian information landscape by requiring them to establish/register and maintain physical offices in the country. It would violate the requirement that the right to freedom of expression applies ‘regardless of frontiers.’”
News
Court Dissolves Petitioner’s Marriage Over Lack Of Love, Care

An Area Court sitting at Centre-Igboro, Ilorin in Kwara State, on Thursday, dissolved the four-year-old marriage between Aminat Mustapha and Wahab Adeshina, following the petitioner’s insistence.
The petitioner told the court that she was no longer interested in her marriage to her husband following claims of lack of love and care.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while delivering ruling, the presiding judge, Mr Toyin Aluko, held that the respondent had written to the court, accepting the divorce application made by his wife.
READ ALSO:Why I Charged My Husband Money For Sex —Woman
Aluko, consequently, dissolved the marriage between the parties, and ordered the woman to observe one month iddah (waiting period) before she could remarry.
Meanwhile, the court granted custody of the two children in the marriage, ages one and three, to their mother.
He ordered the father to pay a monthly sum of N20,000 for the children’s feeding and maintenance.
The court also held that the respondent will be responsible for their education and healthcare.
Again, the court held that the father has unrestricted access to his children, but at reasonable time adding that he should be notified before any decision is taken on his children.
The judge ordered the petitioner to get a copy of the judgment and send same to the respondent.
News
Tinubu Embarks On Three-state Visit

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday on a working visit to Borno, Bauchi and Lagos.
This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Friday in Abuja.
While in Borno, the President will commission projects executed by the Borno State Government under Gov. Babagana Zulum, in collaboration with the Federal Government.
He will also attend the wedding ceremony of Sadeeq Sheriff, son of former Borno Governor, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, and his bride, Hadiza Kam Salem.
READ ALSO:Ambassadorial Nominees: Ndume Asks Tinubu To Withdraw List
From Maiduguri, Tinubu will proceed to Bauchi State to condole with the state government and the family of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, the renowned Islamic cleric and leader of the Tijjaniyya Muslim Brotherhood.
Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi died on Nov. 27.
After the condolence visit, the President will travel to Lagos, where he will spend the end-of-year holidays.
During his stay in Lagos, Tinubu is expected to attend several engagements, including the Eyo Festival scheduled for Dec. 27.
The festival, to be held at Tafawa Balewa Square, will honour notable personalities, including the President’s late mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, former Lagos State governors Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Chief Michael Otedola.
News
My Wife Dented My Image, Took Our Marital Crises To Radio Stations — Husband

…He ran away from home after I was delivered of twins —Wife
Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has ruled that a couple, Folaji and Ifedayo should go their different ways after it pronounced their marriage dissolved.
The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo, who gave the judgment, stated that this was imperative to dissolve the marriage for peace to reign.
The plaintiff, Folaji, who dragged his wife to court, accused her of not loving him, always fighting him, and sometimes displaying violence.
Folaji explained that the root of their differences was Ifedayo’s bias for his mode of worship.
According to the plaintiff, he attends a white garment church, which mode of worship the defendant abhors and therefore refused to attend services with him.
Folaji also said that Ifedayo concealed from him the fact that she was suffering from a particular ailment, which he became aware of after she was advised at the hospital to carry out series of tests.
Folaji stated that the differences between him and his wife degenerated to the level that he became a regular face at the police station and also at radio stations, where his wife took their matters to.
READ ALSO:‘My Husband Kept Coffin Under Our Bed, Planned To Use Our Child For Ritual’
The plaintiff told the court that the defendant had done a lot of damage to his image, and thus prayed the court to put an end to their relationship so that he could pick up the pieces of his life.
The plaintiff sought easy access to their children and promised to give them feeding allowance weekly.
He further requested an order restraining his wife from threatening him and from interfering with his private life.
Ifedayo, in her response, agreed that their union be dissolved.
She stated that her husband was inhumane and that he packed out of their house before she was discharged from the hospital after she put to bed a set of twins.
The defendant further said that the plaintiff had never visited her and their children since he walked out of their marriage.
According to her, her husband sent her N20,000 through his counsel after he dragged her to court, but that she declined it because it was a ridiculous amount to feed a set of twins.
Folaji, in his testimony, said: “My lord, my wife, and I had a proper wedding, and I paid her bride price.
“I expected my wife to be submissive to me and do my binding, but the reverse is the case.
“My wife is stubborn and troublesome.
READ ALSO:My Husband Felt Insecure After I Got A Job, Accused Me Of Infidelity —Wife
“She swore never to attend my church because it’s a white garment church and that she loathes our way of worship.
“The more I encouraged her to attend, the more she kept her distance.
“She later reluctantly agreed to attend service once a month.
“My wife is secretive. She hid from me for years the fact that she was nursing an ailment. I only became aware of this when the doctor confirmed it after she went through a series of tests when she took ill.
“My wife, rather than being remorseful, decided to make life tough for me.
“She became troublesome and never ceased to fight me.
“She is violent and always hit and harmed me with any dangerous objects within her reach.
“We always dragged ourselves to the police station where we became a regular face.
“My wife, determined to dent my image, took our issues to radio stations where I was invited and our differences were aired.
READ ALSO:My Husband Felt Insecure After I Got A Job, Accused Me Of Infidelity —Wife
“I walked out of our marriage when I could no longer tolerate my wife’s misbehaviour.
“She reported me again at the welfare office and, after mediating in our differences, I was asked to provide her with foodstuff and not money, which I did on a regular basis.
“But she has insisted that I would not have rest of mind.
“I pray this court to dissolve our marriage and grant me free access to our children. I promise to make provision for their upkeep on a weekly basis.
“I further request an order restraining my wife from threatening and interfering with my private life.”
Ifedayo, in her response, said: “I agree that our marriage be dissolved. My husband is inhumane and has no conscience, which were the causes of the crisis we experienced in our marriage.
“I was admitted in the hospital to be delivered of our set of twins, but I returned to meet an empty house. My husband deserted me and our newborn children.
READ ALSO:My Husband Shows His Other Wives More Affection, Woman Tells Court
“He never checked on them nor gave anything for their upkeep. He only gave them N20,000 of recent through his counsel after he came to court.
“I rejected the money because such an amount can not feed sufficiently two children of their age, not to mention other needs.
“I plead that the court grant me custody of our children and make my husband responsible for their upkeep.
“I want him to give attention to their feeding and pay their school fees as and when due.
“He should likewise be available any time they need medical attention.”
Giving her judgment, Mrs Akintayo said although both had a valid customary marriage and bride price was paid, the court had no choice than to grant their prayers of divorce since they now express their disinterest in it.
Akintayo ruled that they were no longer husband and wife.
She granted custody of their children to the defendant, stating that they were still minors in need of motherly care.
The defendant was granted access to their children on a weekly basis while he was ordered to be responsible for their welfare.
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