The Nigerian Senate has defended its decision to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, insisting that it was due to “gross misconduct and unruly behavior” rather than allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The Senate made this clarification in a letter addressed to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) after Senator Natasha petitioned the global body at the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Conference in New York on Tuesday.

The letter, signed by Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, was read at the conference by Honorable Kafilat Ogbara, Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, who represented Nigeria at the event.

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The Senate stated: “Senator Natasha-Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and unruly behaviour and not as a result of allegation of sexual harassment or assault.

“The authority of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria firmly refutes the deliberate misinformation and false narrative being circulated by certain media organisations regarding the six-month suspension of Senator Natsaha-Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“Let it be unequivocally stated that Uduaghan was suspended solely for her persistent act of misconduct and disregard for the Senate Standing Orders.”

Despite this, Honorable Ogbara called for a thorough investigation into Senator Natasha’s allegations against Akpabio, emphasizing the importance of due process.

She also maintained that proper procedures were followed before the suspension was finalized.

The controversy began last week when the Senate suspended Senator Natasha, a move that has sparked widespread debate. .Before her suspension, she had submitted a petition accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment, but the Senate dismissed it.

A second petition was also rejected before her suspension was confirmed.

Senator Natasha has vowed to continue fighting what she calls “injustice,” while Akpabio has denied the allegations, insisting he has never assaulted any woman.

Tensions between both lawmakers date back to February 20, 2025, when a dispute arose after Senator Natasha’s seat was changed during plenary.

Their earlier clashes include a July 2024 incident in which Akpabio, while addressing her alleged misconduct, remarked that the Senate was “not a nightclub where anybody can talk anyhow.” He later apologized for the comment.

With the rise of counterfeit and fake medical products posing a major threat to public health, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged Nigerians to join the fight against the circulation of substandard medicines through its newly launched verification app, Greenbook.

The agency made this appeal on Wednesday at the opening of a two-day sensitization and awareness workshop on Greenbook, traceability projects, and paediatric policies in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking at the event, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, represented by the agency’s Director of Post-Marketing Surveillance, Fraden Bitrus, said the Greenbook serves as a digital database of registered drugs in Nigeria.

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The platform was introduced to counter the increasing sophistication of counterfeiters in the production and distribution of fake medicines.

“Counterfeiters have become more advanced in their trade. Therefore, NAFDAC is committed to using modern technology to mitigate their activities, making stakeholder sensitization essential,” she said.

Adeyeye explained that the Greenbook allows users to verify a drug’s authenticity by entering its product name, brand name, or registration number.

If the product is listed, it means it has been registered by NAFDAC and is safe for consumption.

She also highlighted Nigeria’s groundbreaking achievement as the first country in Africa and the second in the world to deploy this innovative technology in tackling counterfeit drugs.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Adaeze Oreh, represented by the Rivers State Coordinator for Drug and Substance Abuse Control, Quanta Dappa, reiterated the state’s commitment to working with NAFDAC to curb the spread of counterfeit drugs.

“We are pleased with NAFDAC’s commitment to eliminating these unscrupulous elements from society,” she said. “As a state, we have a task force on counterfeit, substandard, and fake drugs, and NAFDAC is an integral part of that team.”

The NAFDAC Director for the South-South Zone, Oligbu Chukwuma, assured that measures were in place to ensure state coordinators implement necessary steps to curb the spread of fake medical products.

Speaking to journalists, Chukwuma said, “I visit the states, and they submit monthly reports on their activities, supported with evidence. This is part of the anti-counterfeit measures in place. As you can see, there is zero tolerance for counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.”

NAFDAC urged Nigerians to download the Greenbook app via the Apple Store or Google Play Store using the link: greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng.

A Memphis man was accidentally shot by his own dog after the pet jumped onto his bed and triggered a loaded firearm, police confirmed on Wednesday.

The incident occurred early Monday morning while the man was asleep alongside his female partner.

According to police reports, the couple’s one-year-old pit bull, Oreo, inadvertently discharged the weapon after getting its paw stuck in the trigger guard.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Woman Mauled To Death By Stray Dogs In Italy

The bullet grazed the man’s left thigh, causing a minor injury that was treated at a local hospital.

The victim’s girlfriend, who spoke to Fox 13 Memphis, described Oreo as a playful dog and recounted the shocking moment the firearm discharged.

“The dog is a playful dog, and he likes to jump around and stuff like that, and it just went off,” she said. Reflecting on the incident, she added: “Keep the safety on or use a trigger lock.”

Police have classified the case as an “accidental injury” and have not disclosed the type of firearm involved.

Although gun-related incidents are frequent in the United States, cases involving animals firing weapons are rare.

In a similar case in 2023, a Kansas man was killed when his German shepherd stepped on a hunting rifle.

A comparable incident in 2018 saw an Iowa man accidentally shot in the leg by his pit bull-Labrador mix.

Authorities are using the Memphis case as a reminder of firearm safety, urging gun owners to secure their weapons properly to prevent unintended discharges.