By Edith Nwapi

An Abuja High Court on Thursday admitted the suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan to bail in the sum of N50million for alleged defamation.

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation charged Akpoti-Uduaghan with three counts bordering on alleged defamation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello.

The suspended senator was accompanied to the court for the trial by her husband and associates.

However, when the charge was read, she pleaded not guilty.

In view of her plea, the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, asked Justice Chizoba Oji to remand her in a correction centre pending the determination bail.

However, Natasha’s counsel, Prof. Roland Otaru, sought and got permission to move bail application for the defendant.

This was on the grounds that it was matured for hearing having been served on the prosecution and having joined issues with each other.

In moving the bail application, Otaru urged the judge to exercise her discretion in favour of the defendant.

He argued that the suspended Sen was not a flight risk and would not interfere with police investigation and witnesses.

He submitted that the constitution of the country presumes her innocent, while the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 emphasises bail in such an offence.

On his part, the prosecution counsel urged the judge to refuse the bail application.

He added that the prosecution took great efforts and encountered difficulties before the defendant could be served with the charge.

However, in her ruling, Justice Chizoba Oji, noted that the alleged offence was not a capital one and that the law presumes her innocent for now.

She admitted her to bail in the sum of N50 million and one reasonable surety in the like sum.

The judge held that the surety must be owner of land property within the jurisdiction of the court.

Justice Oji subsequently, adjourned until Sept. 23 for the commencement of trial.

The senator was accused of making harmful imputation which she knew would harm the reputation of Akpabio, by claiming he plotted, with Bello, to kill her.

In count two, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of making a similar harmful imputation knowing that it will harm the reputation of ex-governor Yahaya Bello.

She is, in count three, accused of making another imputation, which she knew would harm the reputation of Akpabio by associating him with the death of one Miss Imoren Iniubong. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Edith Nwapi

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed serious worry about the increasing spread of hate speech facilitated by digital technologies powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu SAN, expressed the concern in his speech at a roundtable to commemorate the 2025 International Day for Countering Hate Speech.

He highlighted the threat hate speech poses to democratic values, social cohesion and human rights.

“Hate speech is not just a threat to individual dignity, it is a direct attack on democratic value and social cohesion.

“It violates the right to dignity of the human person, the right to be free from discrimination, and the right to participate in public life without fear of suppression or violence.

“This year’s theme invites us to examine the growing intersection between technology and human rights.

“It challenges us to reflect on the double-edged nature of AI as both a tool for development and a potential amplifier of harmful narratives, including hate speech” he said.

AI, he said especially, in its generative form is reshaping the way information is produced, consumed, and disseminated.

“The same technologies that empower innovation can also be exploited to generate, amplify, and target hate speech with unprecedented speed and reach.

“This scenario portends dangers for the enjoyment of the right to privacy as guaranteed by section 37 of the 1999 Constitution.

“Through algorithmic targeting, manipulated images, deepfakes, and automated bots, hateful and discriminatory narratives can now be crafted and circulated far more efficiently, often bypassing existing regulatory frameworks,” he said.

If not addressed, Ojukwu said, these technologies can incite violence and reinforce dangerous stereotypes.

“The threat of hate speech in the digital age is real. But so too is the power of solidarity, informed voices and ethical leadership for the enjoyment of the human rights dimensions of these emerging technologies.

“Let us not allow algorithms to shape our humanity.

“We must remain vigilant, we must remain united, and we must act online and offline in defence of dignity, truth and justice,” he said.

He, therefore, called on all stakeholders, especially media, youth, and digital platforms to join in building a Nigeria where human rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled for all.

Ojukwu later reissued a 12-page Advisory on Countering Hate Speech which was previously issued on June 18, 2023.

Similarly, senior human rights adviser to the UN Resident Human Rights Commissioner in Nigeria, Ms Adwao Kufuor, extended greetings from her boss Mr Mohammed Tall.

She said the UN would always identify with NHRC in the struggle to tackle the menace both offline and online.

“Hate speech is on the rise worldwide. It is more on social media; social media has given a lot of misinformation.

“Hate speech has turned into a business, it is used as a weapon to destroy. The mix between hate speech and AI is very dangerous.

“Hate speech is apparent in social media. Tackling hate speech is a priority in the UN,” she said.

Mr Hiliary Ogbonna, Senior Human Rights Adviser to the commission, said the media are the purveyors of hate speech in the political field.

“What we have also seen is the centrality of the media in purveying these hate speeches.

“Today is a very stark reminder to all of us that we need to ensure that our politics is clean and politics is free from hate speeches.

“We have also seen that hate speeches, when not controlled in the political firmament, would lead to multiple violations of human rights.

“These include voter suppression, disenfranchisement, as well as political and electoral violence.

“Now, in terms of prohibition, our electoral act in section 92 prohibits all forms of hate speeches,” he said.

By Alaba Olusola Oke

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ondo State Branch, says its ongoing strike would continue due to the deadlocked meeting with the Ondo State Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JUSUN embarked on an indefinite strike on Friday over non-implementation of financial autonomy by the state government.

NAN also reports that the meeting with the state Head of Service (HoS), Mr Philip Bayo, was due to the strike.

The state Secretary of JUSUN, Mr Kehinde Alade, told NAN on Tuesday in Akure that all efforts to engage the government’s major representatives proved abortive.

Alade stated that the strike would continue until the state government became sensitive to the association’s plight.

According to him, the meeting with the HoS yesterday ended in a deadlock, though we hope to have another meeting anytime from now.

“As at now, we don’t know when we can call off the strike because there has been no fruitful engagement from the government.

“The HoS asked us to shift our ground to give room for negotiation and we are not ready for that.

“People like Mr Governor and the state’s Attorney General that have the mandate to call us to a roundtable meeting have not shown their interest. No meaningful engagements yet so far,” he stated.

NAN reports that all the rooms and offices at the State High Court and different magistrates’ courts in Akure, the state capital, were not open for services. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ayodeji Alabi