The Lagos State Government has initiated a probe into the tragic maternal death of Mrs Kemi Folajimi, the pregnant woman who supposedly died because a private healthcare facility denied her crucial emergency care when her husband could not deposit N500,000 for her treatment. We have been Nigerians for long enough to know how the probe will go: embarrassed government officials will make the right noises, but very little structural change will be achieved by the end of the day. Mrs Folajimi did not die because of money; she died because Lagos is a disorganised city with a lack of infrastructure for emergency services.

Many commenters, including some respected television anchors, think the issue was solely about money. They unrealistically drew up how much money a man should have saved before having children. In a state where 93 per cent of workers reportedly earn less than N200,000, they think a man should have N500,000 tucked aside before he can be a father. Let me break this to you: in a chaotic society where facilities for primary healthcare and emergency services are absent, anyone can die like a dog even while their pockets bulge with money. People have so quickly forgotten that just weeks ago, a tech entrepreneur, Adetunji Opayele, also died in Lagos following a road accident where the bystanders were the ones transporting him from one hospital to the other in a public vehicle.

What killed Mrs Folajimi is a systemic issue that would not have been resolved by individual responsibility. Read the husband’s interview, and you will understand that the poverty that killed her was that of policy—a direct consequence of what is called “multi-dimensional” poverty. For their community to rely on midwives, it must mean that grassroots healthcare facilities are lacking. Now, before some clown pops out to remind us that even Western societies still use the services of midwives, please know they are not only highly regulated but also get to summon prompt emergency services when things go wrong. In Mrs Folajimi’s case, there was no such provision. From the private hospital in Lakowe that reportedly rejected her to the public hospital in Epe, where they referred her, was a journey of 40 minutes. That was a lot of time for a woman who needed emergency care.

According to Mr Folajimi, when they encountered a traffic jam on the way, he had to appeal to the traffic officers to negotiate a path for their vehicle, given the woman’s dire situation. Look at how much crucial time was lost doing all that! Money or no money, anyone could have died under such circumstances. In an organised society, she would have been transferred to another hospital in a siren-blowing ambulance while being attended to by medical professionals. Yet, Nigeria is a place where the only people who get to use sirens to shove us off the road are narcissistic public officials who serve no useful purpose to society. The major reason Oyinbo invented those devices has long been subverted by these highly placed miscreants running empty errands.

Yes, Lagos has initiated a probe, but you can bet the answer they will return would be some tame proclamations on what hospitals should do during emergencies. They are unlikely to indict their own failure to organise society to manage emergencies.

Beyond the shortcomings of Lagos on this matter is also the reality of multidimensional poverty. Over the weekend, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, got on television to downplay the reality of its impact. He said something to the effect that we (our society, I presume) do not know the meaning of the term, and it is one big jargon to bedazzle us and sensationalise poverty. He said, “They think multi-dimensional poverty is worse than food poverty. What multi-dimensional means is that maybe the school your children attend is too far from you or the hospital, and they categorise you as multi-dimensional.” But what exactly was his point? Is that multi-dimensional poverty’s denial of ready access to life-enhancing facilities any more or less desirable than food poverty? Either way, the point made no sense. Mrs Folajimi’s case is an illustrative instance of the distance (literal and otherwise) between death and life, and she is by no means unique. Life in Nigeria gets abridged daily due to multidimensional poverty.

Fasua made several points in that interview that confirm the fears that I have held about the moral vision of the Tinubu administration. These people have no agenda of prosperity and plenitude, and their deficiency is why they routinely valorise poverty. I used to think hyping poverty was the defining ethos of the Muhammadu Buhari administration given how the man not only likes to pretend that he is poor, but also treats poverty—in others, not for himself or immediate family—as some sort of virtue. However, between Tinubu, who narrated a story of how his “friend” became an ẹdun arinlẹ̀ and associates who think a Nigerian can survive on N1500 daily, the APC talakawa mentality is self-evident.

According to Fasua, while $10 won’t buy anyone lunch anywhere in the US, Nigerians can eat with as little as $1. First, he is wrong about the USA. In their poorer states, you can even have breakfast and lunch for $10. Here is the fun fact which one would not have expected an economist like Fasua to have missed: what it takes to earn lunch in the US vs. Nigeria. In the US, where the minimum wage per hour ranges from $7.50 to $15, it takes one hour (or less) of work to buy lunch. Whereas in Nigeria, where the daily minimum wage comes to N2560, you will need almost half a day of work, going by Fasua’s N1500. You dare not eat twice a day on a minimum wage.

At N1,500 per meal per day, you are also not supposed to afford any indulgence, no matter how small. Let us momentarily presume that this Nigerian, being asked to survive in this way, does not have any family, immediate or extended, who depend on them for money. There is no consideration for how our hypothetical Nigerian should be able to afford other necessities like shelter, clothing, hospital bills, and even have some savings! The present government’s idea of how a Nigerian should live is to work, eat basic meals, and die.

If they properly map the geography of poverty to understand its multi-dimensional impact, they would speak to the issues beyond food. Poverty is more than food; it cannot be solved if the average person on a minimum wage eats within their constricted means. Poverty is also about the social safety net and access to life-enhancing facilities. Rather than bending logic to mask the problem of “multi-dimensional” poverty, treating it as just a bunch of words strung together by economists who want to sensationalise administrative failings, they should open their eyes to its real-life impact. The poverty that killed Mrs. Folajimi is not all about money.

There is also a great deal of incoherence in this administration’s understanding of what constitutes poverty. For instance, when they inaugurated the student loan scheme for indigent Nigerians, they pegged the income level of an eligible family at N500,000 annually (or N42,000 monthly). Yet the same government’s idea of a poor individual is a person who can eat N1,500 (N45,000 monthly) worth of food daily. Meanwhile, at N1,500 per meal daily, should a family of four not be earning a minimum of N180,000 monthly?

Even worse, this same society where the people who have the ears of the government tell us that a mere N1,500 is enough for daily survival also expects a man to have saved N500,000 to deposit for his pregnant wife’s treatment in the hospital. How many Nigerians even earn that much in a year? How many of those who do have that much saved up? The reality is far more twisted, and it is almost callous how the people blaming the Folajimis too easily overlooked the structural issues that took her life.

Punch

Jamin Brahmbhatt

I’m writing this article at 2 a.m.

Not because I suffer from insomnia, but because I just woke up to pee. Now, like so many others, I can’t fall back asleep. Instead of scrolling aimlessly through social media, I figured — why not write about my experience?

I’m in my 40s and healthy, and I generally sleep well. But lately, I’ve found myself waking up once a night to urinate. Some nights, I roll over and drift right back to sleep. Other nights, like tonight, my brain kicks into overdrive, and I start thinking about work, family or the stock market (bad idea).

Since I’m a urologist, I have experience working through this symptom for my patients. For tonight’s case, I think I know what’s causing my problem.

Recently, I started drinking a “relaxing” nighttime tea to help me wind down and sleep better. But instead of helping me sleep through the night, I’ve noticed I’m waking up more frequently to urinate. As it turns out, the tea might be acting as a natural diuretic, pushing more fluid through my system and irritating my bladder.

Why you keep waking up to pee

Most of us assume waking up to urinate is purely a bladder issue, but that’s not always true. Frequent nighttime trips could be caused by hydration habits (as with my case), hormonal shifts, medications or even an undiagnosed sleep disorder.

Chances are you’ve experienced something similar. Maybe you wake up once, twice or even more during the night. Maybe it’s occasional, or maybe it’s every single night.
Either way, it’s not just happening to you. Frequent nighttime urination, known medically as nocturia, is one of the most common sleep disruptors, affecting many of my patients and many other people. While it may seem like just an annoying part of getting older, it can sometimes signal deeper health issues.

Let’s say you stop drinking that nighttime “relaxation” tea or other beverage and you’re still getting up. It could be an early warning sign of an underlying medical condition like high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes or sleep apnea.

So before you blame your bladder entirely, let’s sort through the most common reasons for nocturia.

Are you drinking or eating too much before bed?

This may seem obvious, but what you consume and when matters. You might assume your bladder is to blame, but your evening eating and drinking habits could be sabotaging your sleep.

Let’s start with what’s in your cup. Caffeinated drinks, alcohol and even certain herbal teas can act as diuretics, increasing urine production. That late-night glass of wine or after-dinner espresso could be the reason you’re up at 3 a.m. And while many reach for a “relaxing” nighttime tea, some herbal blends, such as chamomile or valerian root, have mild diuretic effects. Sure, you might fall asleep faster, but you could also be waking up to pee more often.

It’s not just about what you drink — it’s also what you eat. Foods with high water content can contribute significantly to nighttime urination. Fruits and veggies like watermelon, cucumbers, celery, oranges and grapes can increase your fluid intake. A bowl of fruit before bed may seem healthy, but it might also send you running to the bathroom multiple times. Soup and broth-based meals, especially when eaten late, can have a similar effect, overloading your bladder overnight.

What can you do? Try cutting off fluids two hours before bedtime and be mindful of water-heavy foods at night. If you suspect your nighttime tea is the culprit, try skipping it for a few nights to see if your sleep improves. Keeping a bladder diary that tracks evening foods and drinks can help pinpoint hidden triggers.

Your hormones are changing

As we age, our bodies naturally produce less antidiuretic hormone (ADH), the hormone that signals our kidneys to retain water overnight. With lower ADH levels, our kidneys produce more urine during sleep, leading to frequent awakenings.

For women, hormonal changes after menopause also contribute to nocturia. Lower estrogen levels can reduce bladder capacity and weaken pelvic floor muscles, increasing urgency and nighttime urination.

For men, hormones influence the prostate gland. Age-related changes in testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels stimulate prostate growth, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). An enlarged prostate compresses the bladder and urethra, causing incomplete emptying, urgency, and more frequent bathroom visits, particularly at night.

Could it be a sign of a bigger problem?

Frequent nighttime urination can sometimes signal underlying health issues beyond just the bladder. Fluctuating blood pressure overnight can increase urine production, disrupting your sleep. Diabetes can also be a factor, as elevated blood sugar levels cause the body to flush excess glucose through urine, increasing frequency.

Sleep apnea also can play a major role in nocturia. Undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) leads to frequent awakenings throughout the night. Many people mistakenly attribute these wakeups to bladder issues, but it’s actually disrupted breathing patterns causing increased urine production.

If nocturia persists despite lifestyle adjustments, especially if accompanied by high blood pressure, loud snoring or daytime fatigue, it’s worth discussing with your doctor. Identifying underlying conditions can greatly improve your sleep and overall health.

Your medications could be a factor

Certain medications, especially diuretics (water pills) prescribed for high blood pressure or heart conditions, can significantly increase nighttime urination by boosting urine output. While beneficial for managing blood pressure, these medications can disrupt sleep if taken later in the day.

Other medications — including antidepressants, sedatives, muscle relaxants, diabetes medications and calcium channel blockers — can also influence bladder function or fluid balance, inadvertently worsening nocturia.

If medications seem to be contributing, ask your doctor about adjusting dosages or timing. Simply taking diuretics earlier in the day can help reduce overnight bathroom trips without compromising treatment effectiveness.

Your sleep cycles change as you age

Sometimes, it’s not really your bladder waking you up — you’re waking up anyway. As we age, we spend less time in deep rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep, resulting in lighter sleep and easier awakening. Minor disturbances, such as noise, movement or a slightly full bladder, can now easily interrupt sleep.

When younger, your body could ignore minor bladder signals and remain asleep. With age, sleep becomes fragmented, making you more likely to wake up and then register the urge to urinate. This explains why nocturia often worsens even with a healthy bladder.

Improving overall sleep hygiene by maintaining a consistent bedtime, keeping your bedroom dark and cool, and avoiding screens before bed can help you to sleep more deeply. If you wake briefly, try relaxing and returning to sleep before automatically heading to the bathroom.

Don’t ignore the wake-up calls

Frequent nighttime urination isn’t just inconvenient; it’s disrupting your sleep, your mood and potentially your overall health. Let’s face it: Waking up at 2 a.m. to pee isn’t how anyone wants to spend their night.

The good news is you’re not stuck with it. If small changes such as limiting fluids before bed or adjusting medications don’t help, it’s time to look deeper. The real issue might be your hormones, prostate, heart health or sleep quality itself.

So next time you shuffle to the bathroom at night, don’t accept it as normal.
Listen to your body. It might be sending you an important message. (And make sure to install some night-lights in the bathroom to spare your toes.)

CNN

Global oil prices plummeted to four-year lows Wednesday, with Brent crude crashing 3.4% to $60.69/barrel and WTI falling 4% to $57.22, as the U.S. imposed 104% tariffs on Chinese imports - a move that could cripple Nigeria's oil-dependent economy already reeling from production shortfalls and stalled reforms.

Trade War Triggers Market Collapse

The tariff escalation between the world's top two economies has sparked fears of a global recession, with Rystad Energy warning China's oil demand growth could drop by 100,000 barrels daily. The crisis compounds existing market pressures after OPEC+'s decision to increase output by 411,000 bpd in May.

Goldman Sachs now forecasts Brent could fall to $55 by 2026 - $20 below Nigeria's 2025 budget benchmark of $75/barrel. With current prices at $60, Africa's largest oil producer faces a catastrophic revenue shortfall.

Nigeria's Perfect Storm

The petroleum sector's collapse threatens to:

1. Derail the N55 trillion budget

- Already, Q1 2025 saw N5.4 trillion in unrealized oil revenue due to production deficits

2. Trigger massive borrowing

- The fiscal deficit could surpass N13 trillion as net oil revenues dwindle to $25/barrel after $40 production costs

3. Paralyze refineries

- Dangote Refinery may abandon U.S. crude imports due to tariffs, while domestic supply constraints worsen

4. Worsen debt crisis

- Crude-backed loan repayments face default risks with dwindling output

"At below $70 oil, we're in crisis territory," warned NES President Adeola Adenikinju. "The budget framework is becoming impractical."

Production Woes Compound Crisis

Despite briefly hitting 1.54 mbpd in January, Nigeria's output remains 25% below its 2.06 mbpd target. February saw production crash to 1.46 mbpd, resulting in:

- 15.5 million barrels lost in January ($1.13 billion revenue shortfall)

- 16.8 million barrels lost in February ($1.26 billion deficit)

- 15.5 million barrels lost in March ($1.03 billion gap)

Energy lawyer Ameh Madaki blasted Nigeria's "fraudulent budgeting process," noting: "We're borrowing to fund fiscal recklessness while citizens suffer."

No Easy Solutions**

With tax reforms stalled in the National Assembly and NNPC's new leadership needing months to address oil theft and production challenges, economists urge emergency measures:

- Immediate budget revisions to reflect $60-$65 oil reality

- Drastic cuts to wasteful expenditures

- Accelerated economic diversification

As Wood Mackenzie warns of prolonged $73 oil averages, Nigeria faces its worst fiscal crisis in a decade - caught between global trade wars and domestic production failures that could collapse its 2025 economic plans.

Eleven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court challenging President Bola Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara's administration.

The suit, marked SC/CV/329/2025 and filed on Tuesday, questions the constitutional validity of Tinubu's March 18 executive action, which removed Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers State House of Assembly, replacing them with retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas as sole administrator for six months.

The governors—from Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa states—are contesting whether the president has the power to dissolve a democratically elected state government under emergency provisions.

Constitutional Questions Raised

The plaintiffs, represented by their state attorneys general, posed three key questions for the Supreme Court's determination:

1. Whether the president can lawfully suspend a governor and deputy governor and replace them with an unelected administrator under emergency powers.

2. Whether the president can suspend a state House of Assembly under emergency rule.

3. Whether such actions violate constitutional federalism and the 1999 Constitution's separation of powers.

The governors argue that Tinubu's move sets a dangerous precedent that could threaten Nigeria's democratic structure, particularly given the National Assembly's endorsement of the suspension.

Legal and Political Implications

The case has significant ramifications for Nigeria's federal system, testing the limits of presidential emergency powers under Section 305 of the constitution. The PDP governors' challenge also reflects deepening political tensions, as Rivers State remains a flashpoint between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition PDP.

The respondents—expected to include the Attorney General of the Federation and the federal government—have 14 days to respond to the summons.

This legal battle unfolds amid Nigeria's broader security crises, including insurgency in the Northeast and rampant banditry in the Northwest, raising concerns about executive overreach in governance and emergency measures.

Next Steps:

The Supreme Court's ruling could redefine the balance of power between federal and state governments, setting a critical precedent for Nigeria's democracy.

A fresh wave of violence has swept through Nigeria’s Northwest region, with bandits and armed groups killing at least 10 people and abducting over 120 in coordinated attacks across Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states within days—underscoring the worsening insecurity plaguing the country.

Katsina: Six Killed, 59 Abducted in Brutal Raids

In Katsina, bandits struck multiple communities, leaving six dead and 59 kidnapped. The latest attack occurred Sunday night in Layin Gara village (Funtua LGA), where two were killed and 16 abducted. A day earlier, over 100 gunmen stormed Maikuma village (Dandume LGA), killing four and seizing 43 residents.

“They moved house to house for hours before retreating into the forest with their victims,” a witness told Daily Trust. Dandume LGA Chairman Basiru Musa confirmed the assault, lamenting that security forces were restricted from pursuing the bandits beyond operational boundaries.

Zamfara: Bandits Kill 2, Abduct 60 in Retaliation for Kingpins’ Deaths

Zamfara faced even deadlier reprisal attacks as bandits loyal to warlord Adamu Aliero raided Tsafe LGA communities, killing two and abducting over 60. The violence followed the killing of Aliero’s brother, Kachalla Yellow (aka Dan Isuhu), in a security operation two weeks prior.

On Sunday, gunmen attacked Gidan Arne village, shooting three residents—two died instantly—and abducting 40 women. Simultaneously, Keta village was raided, leaving one dead, 11 vehicles torched, and shops looted. Earlier assaults in Yan Doton Daji and Unguwan Chida saw 21 more kidnapped.

“These attacks are revenge for the bandit leaders killed by security forces,” a community leader revealed. Despite military operations, bandits continue exploiting Zamfara’s vast forests, imposing illegal levies on farmers and executing deadly ambushes—including the October 2024 killing of nine state guards.

Sokoto & Kebbi: Fishermen Murdered, Student Kidnapped

In Sokoto’s Tangaza LGA, the Lakurawa militia killed two fishermen and a farmer in Sanyinna village Tuesday, just a day after nearby Sutti and Takkau were attacked. Meanwhile, in Kebbi, gunmen stormed a university hostel in Birnin Kebbi, abducting 23-year-old student Augustine Madubiya and killing a herder who tried to intervene.

Authorities’ Response

While police in Sokoto and Kebbi vowed to track the perpetrators, Zamfara’s officials remained silent. Katsina’s officials urged stronger federal intervention, with Dandume’s chairman warning that bandits operate “without fear.”

A Region Under Siege

The relentless attacks highlight the Northwest’s descent into lawlessness, with bandits and militias exploiting weak security presence, vast forests, and communal vulnerabilities. Despite government assurances, residents face daily terror—raising urgent questions about Nigeria’s capacity to curb the escalating crisis.

—Reports compiled from Daily Trust and eyewitness accounts.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has raised alarm over renewed Boko Haram attacks across the state, warning that recent military setbacks suggest Nigeria is "losing ground" against insurgents - even as bandit violence escalates catastrophically in the Northwest.

Zulum's grim assessment came during an emergency security meeting on Tuesday, just days after bandits killed 10 people and abducted over 120 across Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states. The parallel crises highlight Nigeria's deteriorating security landscape, with both the Northeast and Northwest now facing resurgent threats.

Military Bases Overrun, Civilians Targeted

The governor cited recent attacks in Wajirko, Sabon Gari, Wulgo and Izge where insurgents not only killed civilians and security personnel but successfully dislodged military formations - a development he called "a significant setback."

"This daily pattern of attacks without effective confrontation signals Borno is losing the gains made in recent years," Zulum stated, referencing the relative peace achieved since 2021. His warning echoes concerns in Northwest states where bandits now operate with similar impunity, overrunning communities and kidnapping victims by the dozens as seen in last weekend's Katsina and Zamfara raids.

Call for Tech-Driven Warfare

While commending federal support, Zulum urged deployment of advanced surveillance and weaponry along Borno's porous borders with Chad, Niger and Cameroon - a technological upgrade Northwest governors have similarly demanded to combat bandits exploiting forest hideouts.

The appeal comes as both regions face asymmetrical threats: Borno's jihadist insurgency and the Northwest's criminal banditry, now adopting terrorist tactics like mass abductions and reprisal killings. In Zamfara, bandits recently murdered 2 and kidnapped 60 to avenge their leaders' deaths - mirroring Boko Haram's retaliatory patterns.

National Security at Crossroads

The simultaneous crises present President Bola Tinubu with a multi-front security challenge. While Northwest governors grapple with bandit warlords like Zamfara's Adamu Aliero, Zulum's disclosure of reemerging Boko Haram strength suggests Nigeria's security apparatus is being stretched dangerously thin.

As the military scrambles to respond to Tuesday's student abduction in Kebbi and Sokoto's militia attacks, Zulum's warning serves as a stark reminder: without urgent intervention, both regions risk sliding back into the worst violence of the past decade.

—With additional reporting from Northwest Nigeria where over 130 civilians have been killed or abducted in 72 hours.

Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno South, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for allegedly violating constitutional provisions on federal character in his political appointments, sparking a sharp rebuke from the Presidency, which labeled him a "rabble rouser" promoting divisive narratives.

Speaking on Arise TV, Ndume argued that Tinubu’s appointments disproportionately favour the South-West, contravening Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates equitable representation.

"The figures are there. It’s not that I’m just making accusations, but the constitution clearly states that political appointments should reflect federal character, and that is not the case here," Ndume said. He clarified that his remarks were not a personal attack but a constitutional duty as a lawmaker.

"I have the right to criticize the government—that’s why I’m in the National Assembly. We are supposed to oversight the president and point out irregularities," he stated, adding that he expected backlash from Tinubu’s supporters but would not be silenced.

However, the Presidency swiftly dismissed Ndume’s claims as hypocritical. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, accused the senator of "selective perception" and ignoring key appointments from his own region.

"President Tinubu’s appointments are based on merit, integrity, and geographical spread, not tribal arithmetic," Onanuga stated on X. He noted that two prominent NNPC appointees hail from Ndume’s senatorial district, questioning his narrative of exclusion.

Onanuga further criticized Ndume for "headline-chasing" rather than offering constructive criticism, reaffirming Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance. "The president aims to harness Nigeria’s diversity to build a prosperous nation," he added.

The exchange highlights growing tensions over Tinubu’s appointments, with critics accusing him of regional bias while the administration defends its choices as merit-based and balanced.

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi Central, has filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North Central Senatorial District, who currently serves as Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate.

The legal action follows statements made by Nwaebonyi during a March 6, 2025 interview on Channels TV's "Sunrise Daily" program. According to court documents filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan's legal team led by M.J. Numa, Nwaebonyi allegedly made several defamatory claims, including that Akpoti-Uduaghan "had six children for different men" and that her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, "married her under duress."

The lawsuit (CV/1259/25) contends that Nwaebonyi also referred to Akpoti-Uduaghan as a "gold digger," "habitual liar," and "habitual blackmailer" during the nationally televised broadcast, which was subsequently shared across multiple online and social media platforms.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate, argues these statements were deliberately false and malicious, intended to damage her reputation and "justify her illegal suspension by the Senate." She further claims that Nwaebonyi, who sits on the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, made these "false and reckless statements to prejudice the mind of the public against the claimant's petition before the Senate."

In her filing, Akpoti-Uduaghan describes herself as "an inspiration to women in politics" who is "not spoiling the chance of women in politics as falsely alleged, rather she is inspiring women to be bold in their quest for politics and good governance."

The suspended senator is seeking a permanent injunction against further defamatory statements, a formal retraction on the same platforms where the comments were made, public apologies in at least two national newspapers, and N5 billion in damages. She has also requested 10% annual interest on any judgment amount from the date of delivery until full payment.

No hearing date has been scheduled yet.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

US families accuse Palestinian-American billionaire of facilitating Hamas attacks

American families of victims of the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel filed a lawsuit on Monday against a prominent Palestinian-American businessman, Bashar Masri, charging that he provided assistance in constructing infrastructure that allowed Hamas militants to carry out their cross-border rampage.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., is thought to be the first case of a U.S. citizen being accused of providing major support for the attacks that triggered a wider Middle East conflict and upended the region.

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Masri's office called the lawsuit "baseless."

According to a statement announcing the lawsuit, properties Masri owned, developed and controlled, including two luxury hotels and the leading industrial zone in Gaza – the Gaza Industrial Estate - "concealed tunnels underneath them, and had tunnel entrances accessible from within the properties, which Hamas used in terrorist operations before, on and after October 7th."

"Defendants facilitated the construction and concealment of those tunnels and even built above-ground solar panel installations that they then used to supply Hamas with electricity to the tunnels," it said.

The October 7 attacks killed some 1,200 Israelis, including more than 40 Americans, and prompted Israeli retaliation against Gaza that has since killed more than 50,000 Palestinians.

The lawsuit, which targets Masri and his companies, was filed on behalf of nearly 200 American plaintiffs, including survivors and relatives of victims.

"Our goal is to expose those who have aided and abetted Hamas and to try and bring accountability to individuals and companies that have presented a legitimate and moderate image to the Western world but have actively and knowingly helped Hamas," Lee Wolosky of the Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP law firm, lead attorney representing the plaintiffs, said in the statement.

It said GIE was originally established with the help of U.S. taxpayer funding via the U.S. Agency for International Development to promote economic growth in the region.

It said of that "as a result of defendants’ deception," Hamas' tunnel network was built with the help of infrastructure and energy projects financed by international institutions, including the World Bank's International Finance Corporation.

Masri's office called the allegations against him and his businesses false and said he would seek their dismissal in court. It said Masri had been involved in development and humanitarian work for the past decades and "unequivocally opposes violence of any kind."

"Neither he nor those entities have ever engaged in unlawful activity or provided support for violence and militancy," it said in a statement.

Doing any big projects in Gaza prior to the war would have required tacit approval by, and some level of cooperation with, the Hamas authorities. The group built its extensive tunnel network across practically the entire territory, including under private homes and businesses.

A March 10 article in the Jerusalem Post cited unnamed diplomatic sources as saying that Masri had served as a close adviser to Adam Boehler, U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy seeking release of hostages held in Gaza, and had flown on Boehler’s private jet as he shuttled across the region.

It called Masri "a seasoned entrepreneur" who "shares a business-minded approach with Trump, making him a natural fit in the administration’s economic vision for the region."

The State Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment when asked about the newspaper report.

In a Reuters interview in October 2020, when he was 59, Masri spoke in favor of Gulf Arab ties with Israel, condemned by Palestinian leaders, saying they could be an opportunity to apply fresh pressure to halt Jewish settlement in occupied land.

When speaking to Reuters in 2020, Masri said Palestinians must not give up hope. "Our enemies want us to give up hope. If we give up hope, they have exactly what they want, and there will be no Palestine, and no Palestinian people," he said.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine, Zelenskiy says

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces had captured two Chinese men fighting for Russia in eastern Ukraine, potentially threatening a fragile peace effort in the three-year-old war.

Beijing is a close diplomatic ally of Moscow but is not publicly known to have directly aided in the Kremlin's full-scale invasion, which U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to swiftly end.

Writing on X, where he posted a video of one of the alleged men, Zelenskiy said Kyiv has "information suggesting that there are many more Chinese citizens" fighting. He did not say whether Ukraine believed the men were acting on Beijing's orders.

"Russia's involvement of China, along with other countries, whether directly or indirectly, in this war in Europe is a clear signal that Putin intends to do anything but end the war," he wrote, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on what would be the first publicly announced case of Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine. Reuters could not independently verify the claims.

Writing on social media, Andriy Kovalenko, a member of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, called the captured fighters mercenaries but offered no other details.

Russia has used Iranian drones as well as North Korean missiles and artillery shells since its February 2022 invasion.

Kyiv also says Pyongyang's troops have been deployed to fight Ukrainian forces in parts of Russia's western Kursk region, where Ukraine staged a lightning incursion last summer.

"But there is a difference: the North Koreans were fighting on the Kursk front against us," Zelenskiy said in a joint briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever. "The Chinese are fighting on the territory of Ukraine."

Russia has not yet publicly commented on Zelenskiy's claim about Chinese fighters, nor has it explicitly confirmed using North Korean troops in its Kursk region.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the reports of Chinese nationals captured in Ukraine were disturbing but did not say whether Washington has verified the claim.

China's supply of dual-use items to Russia makes it a major enabler of Russia's war effort, Bruce told reporters, adding that cooperation between Moscow and Beijing contributes to global instability.

TOUGHER STANCE

Zelenskiy, who said the men were carrying documents confirming their identities, told reporters he hoped their capture would prompt the U.S. to take a tougher stance on Russia during a peace process to end the fighting.

U.S. and Russian officials have in recent weeks engaged in bilateral talks, drawing criticism from Ukraine which is suspicious of the Trump administration's conciliatory stance toward the Kremlin.

"I think the U.S. needs to pay more attention to what's happening today," Zelenskiy said. He added that Ukrainian forces had engaged six Chinese fighters in total.

"We really hope that after this situation, Americans will talk more with Ukrainians, and then with Russians."

In a separate statement, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had summoned China's charge d'affaires in Ukraine "to condemn this fact and demand an explanation".

China, which declared a no-limits strategic partnership with Russia days before Moscow's invasion, has said it is ready to play a role in settling the war in Ukraine.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russia to step up number of ground-based robots in army — top defense official

The Russian Armed Forces will receive significantly more ground-based robots this year, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said.

On April 8, the Russian Defense Ministry held a scientific and technical conference on the issues of use and development of ground-based robots taking into account the experience of the special military operation.

Belousov pointed out that last year, the defense industry and volunteer organizations delivered several hundred ground-based robots to the Russian military. "This year we plan to deliver many more," he said.

Reuters/Tass