The leadership tussle within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja as the faction led by Kabiru Turaki (SAN) filed a motion requesting Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to recuse herself from hearing the case.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The case, tagged FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, challenges the validity of the PDP National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State. Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the main suit and related applications to January 14, 2026.

The recusal motion, brought forward by a group of seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) led by Chief Chris Uche on behalf of former Acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum and other convention-elected officers, alleges bias in the handling of the suit. The applicants cited a “reasonable and well-founded apprehension of likelihood of bias” in the judge’s previous rulings.

The Turaki faction had earlier petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, requesting that Justice Abdulmalik and two other judges not be assigned cases involving internal PDP disputes due to “past conduct and perceived partisanship,” but the matter was still assigned to her.

They further contended that although the judge denied an ex parte motion filed by the Wike-aligned faction, she issued an ex parte order on November 25, 2025, against their group. The order allegedly restricted their actions on behalf of the party and mirrored a prior order issued by Justice Omotosho in a related PDP matter. They argued that the ex parte decision, lacking urgency, impacted the core substance of the case and undermined their constitutional right to a fair hearing.

The court, however, deemed the recusal motion premature, noting that some parties had not been formally served. Accordingly, proceedings for both the pending applications and the substantive suit were adjourned to January 14, 2026.

The Wike-aligned faction, through plaintiffs Mohammed Abdulrahman (Acting National Chairman) and Senator Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), seeks to nullify the Ibadan convention and its resolutions, restrain the Turaki-led officers from representing the PDP, prevent INEC recognition of the Turaki faction, and direct security agencies to protect their access to the party headquarters at Wadata Plaza and Legacy House.

A related counter suit filed by the Turaki faction, FHC/ABJ/CS/2520/2025, requesting an order for police withdrawal from Wadata Plaza, was also adjourned until January 16, 2026.

A Nigerian cancer patient, widely recognized on social media as AuntieEsther, has sparked widespread discussion after declining a medically recommended blood transfusion, citing her faith as a Jehovah’s Witness. Her decision comes despite over ₦30 million raised through public donations to support her treatment, coordinated by charity advocate Wisdom Obi-Dickson, known on as @Wizarab10.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

As of December 1, 2025, Obi-Dickson confirmed that ₦30.7 million had been contributed for AuntieEsther’s care. Recent medical updates indicate that her cancer remains localized to her breast and armpit. In a social media post, AuntieEsther thanked Nigerians for their support and shared that she and her family had chosen to pursue injections and nutritional interventions to boost her blood, delaying chemotherapy until her blood count improves. “The doctor accepts my decision and will follow me,” she stated, emphasizing her respect for differing opinions while upholding her religious beliefs.

Obi-Dickson revealed that AuntieEsther’s church had warned her that accepting a blood transfusion could result in disciplinary action, including possible disfellowship. He explained that doctors presented two options: a standard treatment involving a transfusion within budget, or a more expensive alternative that aligned with her faith. AuntieEsther opted for the latter, fully aware that it would extend treatment and increase costs.

The decision has generated mixed reactions. Some Nigerians argue that public funds were intended to save her life and question the ethics of supporting a choice that could endanger it. Social media users have called for the donations to be returned or redirected to others in need. Reality TV personality Natacha Akide, known as Simply Tacha, described the situation as “pure madness,” expressing disbelief over the refusal of potentially life-saving care.

Despite the controversy, Obi-Dickson has maintained transparency regarding the funds raised, providing receipts for ₦74,000 spent on AuntieEsther’s preferred food, leaving a balance of ₦30,776,252 as of December 1, 2025. He thanked the public for their continued generosity and support.

Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has strongly denied any involvement in terrorism financing, responding to recent claims that linked him to such activities. The allegations followed a report that suggested two individuals arrested in a counter-terrorism investigation had connections to Malami and other prominent Nigerians.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stressed that neither Nigerian nor international authorities have ever accused, investigated, or charged him in connection with terrorism financing. He clarified that the primary source cited in the report did not implicate him and described the claims as a misrepresentation of his role.

Malami’s tenure under the Muhammadu Buhari administration as AGF had previously attracted scrutiny over the handling of investigations into terrorism financing. In May 2021, he announced that probes had identified several high-profile Nigerians and businessmen allegedly involved in financing terrorism, assuring that these individuals would be prosecuted. However, the identities of these suspects were not publicly disclosed, and prosecutions did not appear to have occurred before the administration ended in 2023.

The former AGF’s recent public profile has also been shaped by reports of his questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding alleged mismanagement of national funds, including parts of the Abacha loot. Malami was invited for questioning on November 28, 2025, and later released on administrative bail, denying all allegations and facing no charges related to the EFCC investigation.

Defending his record, Malami highlighted his contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) framework. He cited his role in the passage and implementation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which enhanced Nigeria’s legal framework against terrorism and updated penalties for related offenses. He noted that these reforms were later evaluated by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and contributed to Nigeria’s removal from the FATF grey list.

Malami urged media outlets to practice responsible reporting on national security matters, emphasizing that his official engagements with various stakeholders during his tenure were consistent with the law and did not indicate any criminal involvement. He cautioned against allegations that could harm reputations and erode public confidence in state institutions, reiterating his commitment to advancing justice and security in Nigeria.