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 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.”

ADC Lauds Court Judgment on INEC ‘s Regulation

By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja on the deadline for party primaries, among others.

In a statement released in Abuja on Thursday evening, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it views the ruling as vindication of its vehement objections to key aspects of the electoral body’s guidelines at the time they were issued.

The ADC also recalled its specific objections to the strict timelines on membership registration, as well as the conduct of party primaries.

“The decision of the Court on these issues, including those that directly contradict the Constitution, is therefore a welcome vindication of our position,” the party said.

The party also said the ruling, which removes the impediment placed by the guidelines on politicians who wish to seek alternative platforms to contest elections, was a positive development that promotes freedom of association.

“We believed at the time that that particular restriction was designed to prevent people from leaving the ruling party, APC. Now that the court has ruled against it, we are sure that, in the coming days, we will witness a mass exodus from the ruling party.”