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Minister files N1bn defamation suit against lawmaker over corruption allegations

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Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, has filed a defamation of character lawsuit against Kafilat Ogbara, a member of the house of representatives.

 

Ogbara is chairman of the house committee on women affairs and social development.

 

Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on June 5, Ogbara claimed that there are “many petitions” against Kennedy-Ohanenye and that the lower chamber is investigating the minister.

 

The minister had been invited to appear before the house committee on public procurement and the panel on women affairs and social development.

 

Reacting to Ogbara’s remarks, the minister denied the allegations, saying she is not under investigation over allegations of fund misappropriation.

 

THE DEFAMATION SUIT

In a suit filed on June 14 at the high court in Enugu, Ogbara and Arise Television were listed as first and second defendants, respectively.

 

Through Chuma Oguejifor, her lawyer, Kennedy-Ohanenye argued that the lawmaker’s comments were “offensive” and “poisoned” the hearts of people who know the minister.

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Oguejifor said the minister reached out to the lawmaker over her comment and informed her that it was “false”.

 

The counsel said the lawmaker refused to apologise or retract her comments.

 

“The 1st Defendant who had been invited to a program hosted by the 2nd defendant which took place on or about 3/6/2024 and 5/6/2024 had while answering questions thrown to her by a staff of the aforesaid 2nd defendant, spoken of and concerning the plaintiff among others, the following words i.e. to say “I think the minister Bar. Uju Ken-Ohanenye is being investigated already by the committee on public procurement. Our own committee is also inviting her for fraud based on several petitions written against her. The House Committee on Women’s affairs is waiting for her to appear before us. They were using different analogies, different names for the same purpose at the Ministry of Women Affairs. Their records show misappropriation of funds, we noticed these when we visited her Ministry last to carry out our oversight functions,” the court document reads.

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“The above words which were spoken of the plaintiff by the 1st defendant who had also mentioned the plaintiff by name were however recorded and reduced to a permanent form, the plaintiff found a copy thereof at the trial and gives the 2nd defendant notice to produce the original at the trial.

 

“That millions of Nigerians listen to the 2nd Defendant’s broadcasts and programmes, in fact the offensive publication was given such wide publicity that several persons including persons living in Enugu where the plaintiff is widely known and had grown up had listened to and heard the publication.

 

“Their hearts were poisoned by the publication which is false so much so that they now view the plaintiff with odium, contempt and ridicule.

 

“The plaintiff had reached out to the defendants and spoken to them about how the publication was as offensive as it was false but till date they have not apologized to the plaintiff nor retracted the defamatory publication.

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“In these circumstances where the defendants have been remorseless about the publication which as earlier on stated above, exposed the plaintiff to great odium and ridicule especially before right thinking members of the society including her friends, associates, her lawyers, relations, etc., the plaintiff is left with no option in the circumstances than to file the present suit against the defendants for defamation of character.

 

“Wherefore the plaintiff claims against the defendants jointly and severally damages amounting to 1 billion naira for libel or defamation of her character.”

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Tinubu returns to Nigeria after state visit to UK

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President Bola Tinubu arrived in Lagos early on Friday following a two-day historic visit to the United Kingdom.

The president is expected to join Muslim faithful later in the day to mark the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr.

Tinubu and his wife, the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, touched down at about 1:15 a.m. at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

They were received on arrival by top government officials and party members, including Lagos State Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside other All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts.

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Tinubu departs UK for Nigeria after historic state visit

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed the the United Kingdom for Nigeria following a high-profile state visit.

This was disclosed on Friday morning by the President’s Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu depart London for Nigeria. President Tinubu and his wife are heading to Lagos for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration,” Onanuga wrote on his Facebook page.

The visit was marked by royal engagements, economic discussions and renewed diplomatic ties.

Tinubu was first received by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, where both leaders held talks aimed at strengthening relations between Nigeria and the UK. The visit featured ceremonial honours, including a carriage procession and a state banquet attended by senior members of the royal family.

At the banquet, Tinubu emphasised the importance of stronger cooperation between both countries. “Nigeria remains ready to deepen its partnership with the United Kingdom in trade, investment and shared prosperity,” he said. “We are committed to creating an environment that supports investors and drives sustainable growth,” Tinubu said.

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On his part, King Charles highlighted the enduring relationship between the two nations. “The United Kingdom and Nigeria share deep and enduring ties. Our countries are bound not only by history, but by a shared commitment to opportunity, enterprise and cultural exchange,” the monarch said.

Beyond the royal engagements, Tinubu also took part in meetings with UK officials, including discussions linked to the government of Keir Starmer, focusing on economic collaboration and investment opportunities.

Speaking on the outcomes of the visit, Tinubu said: “This visit has opened new pathways for cooperation, particularly in infrastructure and trade. We look forward to translating these discussions into tangible benefits for our people.”

A key development from the trip was progress on an agreement involving the rehabilitation of Nigerian ports, valued at hundreds of millions of pounds. According to officials, the project is expected to boost maritime capacity and support economic growth.

Tinubu also acknowledged the significance of the visit, noting that it comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s economy. “We are determined to reposition our economy through strategic partnerships such as this,” he said.

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Good morning! Nigerian Newspapers Headlines: 2027 gov poll: Succession firestorm heats up in 10 states

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1. The simmering build-up to the 2027 general elections is rapidly giving way to an expansive and high-stakes succession season in at least 10 states, as governors in their final terms prepare to exit and a new generation of political actors moves to take their place.

Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara) are in the final lap of their constitutionally permitted two-term, four-year tenures, and the battle for their successors has begun across the states


2. President Bola Tinubu on Thursday night departed London after a two-day historic visit at the instance of the royal family. He is expected to land in Abuja on Friday morning.


3. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on the Nigerian military to adopt a more proactive strategy against terrorist groups in the wake of deadly bombings in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Abubakar made the appeal on Wednesday evening while declaring Friday as Eid-el-Fitr, marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.


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4. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State says the time of Boko Haram informants and their sympathizers is up, vowing that they would be tracked and made to face the full wrath of the law. The governor gave the warning during a state-wide broadcast on Thursday.


5. There was panic at St. Matthias Catholic Church, Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, after a fully loaded lorry crashed into the church premises and caught fire. The incident, which occurred late on Wednesday along the Agulu Lake–Golden Tulip Hotel Road, caused gridlock as motorists slowed down while emergency responders battled to contain the blaze.



6. Nigeria has entered into a fresh agreement with the United Kingdom that will enable British authorities to repatriate thousands of failed asylum seekers and convicted offenders to the West African nation. The deal was formalised by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to Britain.


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7. Combined security operatives have arrested three suspected bandits linked to the February 3, 2026 attack on Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. The arrest was disclosed on Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Ibraheem Abdullateef, in a Facebook post.



8. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kano Strategic Command, has arrested a suspect and recovered 510 blocks of cannabis sativa in a major pre–Eid-el-Fitr operation. The State Commander, D.Y. Lawal, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics, Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari.


9. Nigeria has been ranked the fourth most terrorized country in the world, according to the Global Terrorism Index, 2026, released by the Institute for Economics & Peace, a non-profit think tank headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The report showed that 750 Nigerians lost their lives to terrorism in 2025, representing a 46 per cent increase compared to the previous year.



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10. The Police Command in Enugu State has detained three suspects in coordinated crime prevention operations across the state, recovering a firearm, ammunition and a tricycle. The command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Enugu. Ndukwe said that on March 15, about 9 a.m., operatives on patrol along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway intercepted an unregistered tricycle.

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