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Two Weeks For What, Everybody Is Tired – Judge Slams Maina Over Endless Trial Delays.

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Justice Abubakar Kutigi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Asokoro has criticised former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, over what he described as persistent delays in his trial.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

During Friday’s proceedings, the judge cautioned that Maina must present himself and respond to the charges against him.

Maina is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Ann Igwe Olachi on a nine-count charge involving the alleged receipt of stolen funds totalling ₦738,612,019.99. Both defendants were arraigned in 2019.

The hearing, fixed for a trial-within-trial, could not proceed after Maina’s new lawyer, Emmanuel Wuyi, sought an adjournment, explaining that he had only recently been briefed on the case.

“My lord, the first defendant has been ill, and I understand that this case has a history of adjournments. This is my first time appearing before your lordship, being that I have just been briefed about this case.

“I am asking your lordship for two weeks to enable me to study the facts of the case, and I am even looking at resolving this matter with the prosecution,” Wuyi said.

In response, Justice Kutigi challenged the request, highlighting what he viewed as a recurring pattern of delay.

“Two weeks for what? Everybody is ready; everybody is tired.

“We want every party to have a fair hearing and do their cases, but when there is an adjournment, he will go and hire a new lawyer, and when we insist we will go on, you will now say you were denied a fair hearing.

“He has changed to another lawyer now, and I have lost count of the number of lawyers who have appeared in this case.

“We know the substance, and the end will determine it. The integrity of what we do here is critical and important,” the judge stated.

EFCC counsel, Francis Usani, also opposed the application, informing the court that prosecution witnesses were already in attendance for the trial-within-trial.

“My lord, only yesterday we were served with an application for a stay of proceedings, an application on the jurisdiction of this court, a travel application and an application for appeal.

“If he has been able to file such voluminous and bulky applications, it is assumed that the counsel knows the case so that we can start, except he is going to withdraw these applications and take a decision if he wants to continue with the trial-within-trial.

“I can give him the opportunity to watch the video, invite him to my office and let him watch the video. If he sees anything, then he let us know so that we can save the court’s time,” Usani added.

The judge further asked the defence to clarify its position.

“How can you say you want to do this case, and at the same time you filed applications of jurisdiction, stay of proceedings and so on?

“What do you really want? You have to decide on what we are coming here to do on the next adjourned date,” he queried.

Wuyi subsequently made an oral application to withdraw the motion for stay of proceedings dated February 10, 2026, and confirmed readiness to proceed with the trial-within-trial at the next sitting.

The court granted the withdrawal and adjourned the matter until February 26 for continuation of the trial-within-trial.

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Police Arrest NSCDC Officer With Pistol, 17 Bullets At Abuja Kubwa Market.

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An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been arrested for allegedly firing gunshots into the air during a confrontation with traders at Kubwa Market in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The officer, identified as Onoja Samuel, reportedly arrived at the market armed with a pistol following allegations that some traders had assaulted his wife.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed the incident while addressing journalists at the command on Wednesday, Naija News reports.

Sanusi said the police received a distress call from Kubwa Market, located in the Bwari Area Council, reporting that a man was shooting into the air.

Following the report, officers attached to the Kubwa Police Division were deployed to the scene, where they arrested the suspect.

According to the police commissioner, preliminary investigations revealed that Samuel holds the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Corps (DSC) in the NSCDC.

He explained that the officer allegedly fired several shots during an argument with the traders.

“During the ensuing argument with the traders, Onoja Samuel, who is a DSC with the NSCDC, fired several shots into the air,” Sanusi said.

The police recovered a CZ pistol and 17 rounds of live 9mm ammunition from the suspect.

Sanusi added that Samuel remained in police custody and would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The commissioner also urged personnel of other security agencies operating in the FCT to exercise restraint and notify the police divisions responsible for their areas before conducting authorised operations.

He stressed that effective coordination among security agencies was essential to preventing confrontations and maintaining peace across the territory.

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‘We Don’t Want Another Mohbad Case’ – Laolu Gbenjo Speaks On Toluwanisings.

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Nigerian gospel singer Laolu Gbenjo has cautioned the public against spreading unverified information about the circumstances surrounding the death of his colleague, Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Gbenjo’s warning comes amid growing controversy surrounding the late singer’s death and burial arrangements, with reports of disagreements among members of his family.

The gospel singer spoke on Tuesday during a night of tributes held in honour of Toluwanisings in Ibadan, Oyo State. He warned against allowing the situation to degenerate into a controversy similar to the one that followed the death of Nigerian singer Mohbad.

Describing the deceased as a devoted Christian and a genuine servant of God, Gbenjo said Toluwanisings was passionate about his faith and had a good relationship with people.

He urged the public to stop fuelling unnecessary controversy over the late singer’s death, particularly through social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

“You can never see Toluwani in the midst of jobless people. He had a good heart. He was a friend to everybody. He served the Lord with all his heart. Don’t turn Toluwani into Mohbad. That madness on TikTok and Instagram must stop. If you are jobless, go and look for a job,” Gbenjo said.

Meanwhile, comedians Ayobami Ajewole, popularly known as Woli Agba, and Olamide Oladimeji, also known as Dele Omo Woli, have threatened legal action against individuals allegedly linking them to Toluwanisings’ death.

Woli Agba disclosed this in a public notice shared on his Instagram page on Sunday.

In the notice issued by their solicitors, Gemgold, the comedians warned members of the public against publishing or circulating allegations they described as false and defamatory against them.

The legal notice maintained that the allegations were baseless and intended to damage the reputations of the two entertainers.

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El-Rufai’s ₦1bn Legal Battle Takes New Turn As Court Fixes Judgment Date.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed December 2, 2026, for judgment in the ₦1 billion fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other respondents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik set the date after lawyers representing the parties adopted their respective court processes.

However, El-Rufai’s lawyer was absent when the case was initially called. The judge subsequently deemed the former governor’s filed processes adopted.

Counsel to the ICPC, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), adopted the commission’s court processes and urged the judge to dismiss the suit in its entirety.

Similarly, the lawyer representing the Inspector-General of Police, ACP Ezekiel Rimamsomte, and Maimuna Lami-Shiru, Director of Civil Litigation and Public Law, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), adopted their respective processes and asked the court to dismiss the case.

During the proceedings, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, arrived in court and apologised for his lateness.

When Akpan sought the court’s permission to adopt his client’s processes, Justice Abdulmalik informed him that the documents had already been deemed adopted.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until December 2, 2026, when judgment is expected to be delivered.

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