• NBA speaks out as Senate Panel imposes six months suspension to Senator Natasha
• Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan claims her suspension is illegal and unjust
• Defence headquarters reject Nigeria’s ranking in global terrorism report
• NECO acquires new technology to boost exam credibility
• Nigerian Air Force admits to killing civilians in Zamfara death strike

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.

NBA speaks out as Senate Panel imposes six months suspension to Senator Natasha 

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central is preparing to appeal her six-month suspension, which followed a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the seating arrangements in the Senate chamber.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), along with opposition parties, has condemned the Senate for not providing Akpoti-Uduaghan sufficient time to present her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.

Victor Giwa, the Kogi lawmaker’s lawyer, stated, “The suspension is invalid and cannot be enforced. It is unlawful because a court order prevents the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from taking further action.”

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan claims her suspension is illegal and unjust

The senator from Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has condemned her suspension from the Senate, deeming it a breach of natural justice, fairness, and equity. 

On March 6, the Senate imposed a six-month suspension on Akpoti-Uduaghan after a recommendation from its Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions. 

This suspension was based on what the Senate described as a “total violation of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 as amended.” 

In a Facebook post, she stated, “My unjust suspension from the Nigerian Senate goes against the culture of silence, intimidation, and victim-shaming and undermines the principles of natural justice, fairness, and equity.”

Defence headquarters reject Nigeria’s ranking in global terrorism report

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has rejected the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report, which lists Nigeria as the sixth most terrorism-affected nation globally.

The DHQ took issue with the report released on March 5, asserting that no external organization can offer a more accurate depiction of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts than the country’s security forces.

Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, the Director of Defence Media Operations, encouraged the public and media to ignore the report, contending that Nigeria’s evaluations are more trustworthy.

“Imagine there’s an issue in my house. I’m in charge, yet someone else is commenting on what’s happening inside. Who do you think would provide a more accurate account? The one I share as the head of the household or the outsider’s perspective?”

NECO acquires new technology to boost exam credibility

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has revealed the acquisition of a high-performance Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) scanner. 

Dantani Wushishi, the registrar of NECO, shared that the newly installed scanning machine at the ICT Department will improve the council’s examination procedures. 

This advanced technology reportedly costs ₦500 million and can scan 15,000 OMR sheets in just one hour.

Nigerian Air Force admits to killing civilians in Zamfara death strike 

The Nigerian Air Force has acknowledged the unintended killing of civilians during an airstrike in Zamfara targeting bandit hideouts and has promised both compensation and operational changes to prevent future occurrences.

The Air Force’s investigation revealed that 11 members of a vigilante group were accidentally killed, while another 11 sustained injuries, including fractures and minor shrapnel wounds.

In a statement, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force, shared that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic event during his visit to Zamfara State to meet with the victims and their families affected by the airstrike.