By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

After two years of legal tussle against the former lawmaker representing Bosso Constituency at the Niger State House of Assembly,Hon Abdulmalik Madaki, Justice Mikhail Abdullahi has found him not guilty.

The former lawmaker was dragged to Minna High Court by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) through a petition filed by Arch. Abubakar Gwamna alleged that the former law maker diverted funds meant for constituency projects to his personal pocket.

During the trial five witnesses testified against the former which include the prosecuting witness from the EFCC while one one Awaisu Wana who was said to have the petition for the petitioner,Arch Abubakar Gwamna refused to appear before the court to testify.

Also the then Clerk of the Niger State House of Assembly,Mallam Abubakar Kagara was called as a witness and some documents were tendered as evidence.

Abubakar Gwamna who succeeded Hon. Abdulmalik Madaki in the state house of Assembly filed the frivolous petition alleging that his predecessor collected huge amount of Millions of Naira as Constituency allowance through out his stay as member representing Bosso State Assembly without any project in the constituency.

All the documents tendered in the court during trial were all admitted as evidence for the prosecution of the former lawmaker.

Two of his Defence Attorney Admu Umar Esq.and Ishyaku Barau, in their separate submission during the trial, prayed the court for no case submission in favour of the former law maker as most of the evidence and the prosecuting witnesses were not consistent.

While ruling on the no case submission as prayed for by the both Attorneys, Justice Mikhail Abdullahi held that the prosecuting counsel of the EFCC failed to prove all the allegations brought against the defendant and the court find him not guilty “ because the prosecutor failed to establish any case against the defendant and is discharged accordingly”

By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Friday accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of obstructing access to former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, after a delegation comprising the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; and Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, Mallam Salihu Lukman, was denied access to him at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

In a strongly worded statement, the party said it had previously written to the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, requesting visitation rights for El-Rufai amid concerns raised by his family over the alleged denial of access to doctors and food. The ADC warned that “Nigeria and the world are watching,” insisting that the former governor was being subjected to intimidation and political persecution, while threatening to mobilise party members nationwide if access to him continues to be denied.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to express its concern over the refusal of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to grant senior leaders of our party access to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State and a prominent leader of our party, who remains in the custody of the Commission.

Earlier today, alongside the National Secretary of our party, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, Mallam Salihu Lukman, we visited the headquarters of the ICPC in Abuja to see Mallam El-Rufai. Despite prior communication and formal requests, we were denied access without any reasonable explanation.

While we were at the premises awaiting a response to our request, the atmosphere suddenly became noticeably tense after no fewer than three truckloads of armed police officers arrived at the facility. The heavy deployment, which appeared entirely unnecessary and disproportionate to the peaceful presence of unarmed political leaders, created the unmistakable impression that the authorities feared that the mere presence of opposition leaders at the Commission could trigger public outrage.

It is deeply troubling that a simple request by senior party officials to visit a detained colleague was met, not with professionalism, but with a show of force more suited to the suppression of civil unrest. At no point did members of our delegation threaten disorder, incite confrontation, or mobilise supporters to the premises. Yet the response of the state suggested panic, fear, and an attempt to intimidate not only our party leaders, but also any Nigerian who may dare to question the treatment being meted out to opposition figures.

Such actions only reinforce growing public concern that state institutions are increasingly being used, not merely for law enforcement, but as instruments of political pressure and psychological intimidation against dissenting voices.

It is important to state that the National Secretary of the ADC had previously written officially to the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, requesting visitation rights to Mallam El-Rufai, especially in light of growing public concerns regarding his wellbeing and reports that he has faced repeated restrictions on access to family members and medical personnel.

Only days ago, Hajiya Asia El-Rufai publicly alleged that her husband was denied access to his doctor and that she was prevented from delivering food to him while in custody after arriving at the facility in the evening. Members of his family have similarly raised concerns that even court-ordered medical access was being frustrated through administrative obstruction and arbitrary protocols.

While the ICPC has publicly denied these allegations and insisted that access protocols were followed, the continued refusal to allow leaders of his political party to see him only deepens suspicion and raises further questions about the true nature of his detention.

Let it be clear: Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is not a fugitive. He voluntarily submitted himself to the authorities. Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is entitled to dignity, medical care, family access, and fair treatment under the law. What we are witnessing increasingly appears to be punishment by process, intimidation through isolation, and an attempt to break the spirit of a leading opposition figure.

The ADC will not stand by and watch one of its leaders subjected to this pattern of harassment and calculated humiliation. Nigeria is watching. The international community is watching. The world is watching.

We therefore demand that the ICPC immediately grant unrestricted access to Mallam El-Rufai by his family, doctors, lawyers, and leaders of his political party. Anything short of this will only reinforce public perception that state institutions are being weaponised against opposition voices.

By George Mgbeleke

The Supreme Court, on Friday in a landmark and declatory judgement on a suit number SC/CV/229/2026, set aside the Court of Appeal Judgement which INEC used in removing Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe as National Chairman, and replaced with the expelled former national chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam, on the Commission’s portal.

Recall that the Supreme Court heard the six appeals brought by the SDP on Tuesday, 12th May 2026, and reserved judgement for Friday 22nd May 2026. Supreme Court read a full judgement in FAYEMI TOSIN BABATUNDE VS INEC & 4 ORS SC/CV/229/2026 and ordered that the other five appeals shall abide by this judgement.The Supreme Court held inter alia thus:

(1) Plaintiffs had no locus standi, not being aspirants, and that robbed the Court of jurisdiction.

(2) Federal High Court was right to have dismissed the suit for lack of locus standi and having so dismissed the suit should not have bothered to make other findings.

(3) The Court of Appeal per Nyesom-Wike JCA, was wrong to have on the basis of an appeal by an appellant lacking in locus standi and without jurisdiction to invalidate the Ekiti Governorship primarily election which returned Ambassador Isaac Adebayo Alade as the SDP Governorship candidate for the June 2026 election in Ekiti State. That judgement of the Court of Appeal is set aside

(4) The Court of Appeal is wrong to have on the basis of this appeal pronounced on the issue of venue and other aspects of the Ekiti State Governorship primary Election of the SDP. That judgement is also set aside.

(5) The Court of Appeal is wrong to have alluded to or rely on INEC report on another purported parallel governorship primary election of Engineer David Oludele Bankole. That is also set aside.

(6) The Court of Appeal was wrong to have made pronouncements on the leadership of SDP without jurisdiction. Those pronouncements pertaining to Prof Sadiq Abubakar Gombe and SDP leadership are also set aside.

(7) In the final analysis, the Court of Appeal should not have disturbed the judgement of the Trial Court. Supreme Court strikes the suit ab initio for lack of locus standi as held by the Federal High Court per Nwite J and sets aside all the parts of the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on 27th March 2027 which set aside parts of the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered on 19th January 2026.

Today’s foregoing Supreme Court judicial action set aside the judgement of Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, JCA, upon which INEC wrongly relied on to restore the former Chairman, expressly brings to finality the shenanigans of Gabam and his co-travellers, and the distraction caused by his activities, which were apparently funded and enabled, by some well-placed individuals within the polity.

By implications, it is the end of the road for Gabam and his co-conspirators, and the incpnstestable affirmation of the Prof. Gombe-led National Working Committee (NWC) as the authentic national leadership of the SDP, as well as the validation of the actions taken by the National Convention of the Party, which held in Bauchi on May 9, 2026.

In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary of SDP, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the party having finally overcome the deliberate and concerted ploy to undermine and distract it ahead of the 2027 polls, has been strongly strengthened and positioned to forge ahead in its well-laid out programs and activities towards coming out victorious in the general elections.

“The Party salutes the independence and courage of conviction displayed by the distinguished Priest of the nation’s. highest Temple of Justice, on this particular matter. The resilience of the SDP national leadership under Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe and the members across the country are greatly commended and appreciated. We salute everyone for staying the course admirably during the struggle and long walk to freedom for the Party.

“Truth and common sense have finally prevailed over lies and deception and national interest over the personal interest of “career politicians,” and Nigeria is better for this positive development.

“Yes, victory has finally been delivered to us, and the party returned to the people who are the true owners, but the real work has just begun for all well-meaning SDP faithful.

“The task has been set out – the duty of selling the ideals of social democracy and people-centred politics as well laid out in the manifesto of the party, and as represented by the relatable national restoration amd economic recovery agenda of Prince Adewole Adebayo, the presidential Candidate of the Party elected at the National Convention of the party in Bauchi, for the 2027 general elections.”