Welcome to citizen’s watch as the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan versus Godswill Akpabio saga entered Season 5 on the floor of the National Assembly. The Senate Committee on Ethics played host as the season unfolded. The venue was the Senate chambers, again.
The Senate Committee on Ethics caught fire on Tuesday, March 25.
Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi went head-to-head against former Education and Solid Minerals Minister Dr. Oby Ezekwesili. Their exchange brought out recurring themes: age and seniority, respect, manner of approach, character, and truth (all concerns of Ethics.)
Luckily, the fire burnt for only one night.
The next day, Ezekwesili acknowledged that she had made the initial comments that provoked Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi. In a separate TV interview, the Senator praised her candour, retracted his heated remarks, and restored his respect for her. He claimed again that she was old enough to be his mother. Their ages are 62 for Ezekwesili and 44 for Nwaebonyi. Next?
Akpoti-Uduaghan versus Akpabio has dragged the Senate hither and tither.
It put the Senate Committee on Ethics in the spotlight. The light has been harsh and unflattering.
Citizens uncovered that the chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics had been disbarred by the New York Bar for gross ethical misconduct. He misappropriated his client’s funds, failed to attend the case, ignored responses to inquiries, and fled New York, abandoning his practice for Nigeria. Yet, he continued to present himself as a lawyer.
Citizens have sued its chairman, Neda Imasuen, alleging unsuitability for both the Committee and the Senate. He hid the fact of his disbarment in New York.
Neither the Senate nor the Nigerian Bar Association has addressed the question and challenge. Should Neda Imasuen continue to present himself as an attorney in Nigeria? Is Neda Imasuen fit for the Nigerian Senate? The Senate appears to neglect this troubling issue. Given the ethical infractions associated with him, should Neda Imasuen remain on the Senate Committee on Ethics? Why did he accept the position of chair of the ethics committee: courage or impunity?
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan versus Akpabio brought Nigeria’s dirty linen to New York and aired it before global legislators. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan presented her case of gender marginalisation at a meeting of the UN Parliamentary Union, which pledged to address the issue by hearing from both sides.
The Nigerian response threatened her with law enforcement and asserted that she attended the meeting without proper authority. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan mentioned that she registered for the session during her last visit as a Nigerian representative. There has been silence on the matter since then.
The saga continues.
INEC thrashes recall petition against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
INEC thrashed within 24 hours of receiving a petition seeking to recall Kogi senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The electoral commission faulted the petition because its vendors did not have their addresses and other failings.
Said INEC: “Six bags of documents accompanied the petition from Kogi Central Senatorial District said to be signatures collected from over half of the 474,554 registered voters spread across 902 Polling Units in 57 Registration Areas (Wards) in the five Local Government Areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi and Okene.
“The Commission’s immediate observation is that the representatives of the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address(es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted as provided in Clause 1(f) of our Regulations and Guidelines. The address is “Okene, Kogi State”, which is not a definite location for contacting the petitioners. Only the telephone number of “the lead petitioner” is provided as against the numbers of all the other representatives of the petitioners.”
When the Supreme Court issued an explainer and denial
The Supreme Court of Nigeria issued an explainer and denial the previous weekend, responding to public concerns about Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim (jsc) and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s appearance together in Calabar.
Director of Communication Mr. Festus Akande stated that there was nothing inappropriate about the appearance of both men as the University of Calabar jointly honoured them.
Citizens on social media sensed something amiss because Justice Agim read the lead judgement of the Supreme Court that reinstated the 25 legislators to the Rivers State House of Assembly, declaring that they remained members despite their public renouncement of membership in the PDP, the platform on which they won elections, and subsequently withholding federal allocations to Rivers State. Analysts attribute that judgement to laying the groundwork for President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
However, Prof Chidi Odinkalu burst the claim with a seven-page response clinically dissecting the judgments and the ugly role of the judiciary in the Rivers State crisis.
His response was contained in “AMINU ADO BAYERO, EMMANUEL AKOMAYE AGIM, NYESOM WIKE, AND THAT CONVOCATION EVENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR: A RESPONSE TO FESTUS AKANDE, DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS AT THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA”.
Odinkalu asserted, “That event in Calabar was rich with pictures to support suspicions of improper interference with the cause of justice.”
He added: “Neither Festus Akande nor, indeed, Justice Emmanuel Agim, as a Supreme Court justice, can pretend to be unaware that Nyesom Wike is the most prolific current political litigator in Nigeria. To justify a Supreme Court justice’s public fraternising with him is to license the accessorising of judicial officers for political purposes.”
The EU asks its 27 members to stockpile 72 hours of food amid war risks
The European Commission (EC) has recommended that all European households maintain water, medication, batteries, and food supplies for 72 hours without external assistance in a crisis.
Reports from various platforms indicate that the European Commission released this guidance as part of a broader strategy to prepare Europe for potential crises, including armed conflicts, cyberattacks, pandemics, and the effects of the climate crisis.
The EC’s draft strategy warns that Europe must prepare for large-scale incidents and cross-sector crises, including the potential for armed aggression that may impact one or more member states.
The EU also emphasises that it must be able to deploy all available resources and assets in support of member states, which may include military resources.
“In the event of armed aggression, armed forces will require civilian support to ensure the continuous functioning of the state and society,” explains the draft.
Nigerians must be attentive to this development
Mr Macaroni shares account of owing billions and bankruptcy
Skit maker Mr Debo Adebayo shared his struggles with debt and bankruptcy while entertaining millions. He expressed this on X. He fell victim to a financial scam involving a failed investment, his recklessness, and accumulating debts.
Macaroni stated: “You all know I never bring my issues to social media. I only wish to share this with my community because I want people to learn from my experience. Also, a part of me won’t rest until I publicly thank God for His grace; therefore, I feel obliged to do this. Around 2021/2022, I was the victim of a scam and a failed investment that cost me all I had saved. It shook me deeply, but I told NO ONE about it. If you know me well enough, you’d know I dislike sharing my problems. I could be going through the worst while helping others solve their issues, but I would never share mine. My training in Theatre has taught me that the show must go on.
As a Thespian, I must continue to entertain, inform, educate, and use my art to improve society. So, it didn’t matter what I was experiencing. The show must go on! After losing all the money I had, trouble started when I had to borrow from different sources to settle all pending commitments and fulfil specific responsibilities I have always believed were mine to manage. I make millions, so I never thought borrowing money to pay back with interest could ever be a problem. But I got too comfortable, and it took me a long time to realise I was using my money to pay back interest. Also, my financial recklessness did not help. Please don’t borrow money! But if you must, please be responsible.
I’m not perfect. I try to be as honest as possible. I am a financially reckless person. I know it. My family and friends have always said this, and they did so way before fame. This is how I have been for as long as I can remember. I would give my money for lunch to someone who didn’t have breakfast, forgetting that I would go hungry when it was time for lunch. If you are like me, please learn to share your breakfast and keep your money for lunch. ( I have always known this, but I am a stubborn person.)
Returning to my story, I found myself deep in debt, yet it didn’t curb my recklessness. 2024 marked a pivotal point for my acting career. Two of the films I appeared in were showcased at international festivals. My performances in other films released last year also garnered me numerous commendations. However, it was also the most troubling year of my life.
I felt burdened day and night, knowing I was over half a billion in debt. The last straw came when I was betrayed by someone I had always cherished as a friend and sister. She broke my trust, love, and confidence, which completely destabilised me. I rarely trust people, and nothing truly surprises me about human behavior, but this was something I could never have prepared for. Such was the depth of my trust and love. But you see, one thing about me is that I’m a warrior! I have never backed down from a fight. When I fall, I bounce back even stronger by God’s grace and keep my head held high. So, I gathered myself and made some very tough decisions, and with the help of family and friends who have stood by me, I feel better than I have in the last three years! This letter of love is for my people going through hardships. Please do not give up! People will betray you, but you must not let that derail you. You are alive for a reason. Every day of your life, you must fight to be a better person than you were yesterday. You must also be accountable, seek help, and make better decisions. It’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them, but what is not okay is to keep repeating the same errors. May the love in our hearts be forever greater than the hate, betrayal, and wickedness in the world. With love, Debo.
https://x.com/mrmacaronii
