A former presidential spokesperson Dr Doyin Okupe is dead . He was 71 years old.

Okupe’s death was confirmed by family sources.

He served as a senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan and later as the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 Presidential Campaign.

In December 2022, he stepped down from Obi’s campaign after a money laundering conviction.

He later resigned from the Labour Party after the 2023 general elections.

The Senate  on Thursday suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghen for six months for violation of the Red Chambers rules following her allegation of sexual harassment.

Her suspension followed her dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio who she accused of sexual harassment.

“That the Senate do suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for her total violation of the Senate Standing Rules (2023 as amended for bringing the presiding officer and the entire Nigerian Senate to public opprobrium,” Senate President Godswill Akpabio said on Thursday while reading out the recommendations of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct probing her claims.

Despite efforts by some senators to reduce the suspension period to three months, the Senate, in a majority vote, sustained the initial decision

However, the lawmakers ruled that the suspension could be lifted or reduced if she tenders a written apology.

“For the Senate to consider lifting this suspension or reducing the tenure of the suspension, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan shall submit a written apology to the Senate before her reconsideration by the Nigerian Senate,” Akpabio said at the Red Chambers on Thursday.

It, however, agreed that her aides’ salaries be paid.

“The aides of Natasha are not Natasha,” Senator Orji Kalu said while calling for an amendment to the sanctions. “It would be wrong for this Senate to deprive these aides of their allowances.”

Following her suspension, the Kogi Central lawmaker was escorted out of the chambers by the Sergeant-At-Arms, but before she left she declared that “this injustice would not be sustained”.

Her suspension was recommended by the committee which found her guilty of a violation of the Senate’s rules after its investigation.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker’s suspension is the culmination of weeks of claims and counter-claims between her, Akpabio, and the Senate.

This controversy began on February 20, 2025, after a seating arrangement dispute with Senator Akpabio. Thereafter, Senator Natasha accused the Senate president of sexual harassment and alleged abuse of office.

She submitted a petition on the floor of the upper lawmaking body on Wednesday. But the Senate Committee on Public Conduct, Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions headed by Neda Imaseun (Edo South) dismissed her claims. It declared her petition “dead on arrival,” owing to what it described as a breach of due process and legal limitations.

According to the committee, the senator personally signed the petition, instead of getting someone else’s endorsement, thus rendering it “invalid”.

Senator Natasha, hours after that, re-submitted her petition. However, on the same day, the Imasuen-led committee recommended her suspension for the violation of the Senate rule, a move ratified by the Red Chambers.

It recommended, in addition to her six-month suspension, the locking of the Kogi Central lawmaker’s office; barring her from the National Assembly during the suspension, and stopping her salary and that of her legislative aides.

The police in the Federal Capital Territory have faulted a report that former Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. David Shikfu Parradang, was kidnapped and killed.

Instead, the police confirmed that he was found dead in a chair inside his hotel room in Abuja after receiving a female guest.

Parradang was discovered dead a day after checking into the Joy House Hotel, Area 3 Junction, by a concerned friend, a military officer, who arrived with hotel staff to check on him.

In an official statement titled, “FCT Police Respond to Misreported Death of Retired Comptroller General David Parradang,” issued by SP Josephine Adeh, PPRO, the police provided details of the incident, emphasizing that there was no case of kidnapping or assassination.

“On March 3, 2025, at approximately 12:00 PM, Mr. Parradang arrived at Joy House Hotel, Area 3 Junction, driving a black Mercedes Benz. He checked into the hotel, paying ₦22,000 for a one-night stay.

Shortly after checking in, he requested that a hotel attendant escort a female guest to his room. The lady left the hotel premises around 4:00 PM on the same day.

Mr. Parradang did not leave his room afterward. Around 4:00 AM on March 4, 2025, a friend, who is a military officer, concerned about his wellbeing, traced him to the hotel.

Upon arrival, the hotel receptionist and the officer proceeded to his room, where they found Mr. Parradang deceased, seated in a chair.

The Durumi Police Station was notified, and officers quickly arrived at the scene to secure the area, take photographs, and collect relevant evidence to preserve the integrity of the investigation.

His body has been transferred to the National Hospital for further examination, while hotel staff are cooperating with police investigations.

The police also confirmed that efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest the female guest who last visited him.

The FCT Police Command has urged the public and media to avoid spreading unverified reports suggesting that the former NIS boss was kidnapped or assassinated.

“We urge the public and media outlets to refrain from spreading unverified information, including claims of kidnapping, that may incite fear or panic.

“The FCT Police Command is committed to conducting a thorough investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding Mr. Parradang’s death and ensure justice is served.”

The police said that updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.